BN candidate for Tanjong Datu likely to be from Adenan’s immediate family
KUCHING: Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s widow Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu will most likely be state Barisan Nasional ( BN)’s pick to be the candidate for Tanjong Datu in the by- election this Feb 18.
A source believed that Jamilah’s name was among the three names submitted by Santubong MP Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday.
“I believe the other two names submitted were Adenan’s sons Abdul Aziz and Azizul Annuar,” the source told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
Wan Junaidi conf i rmed submitting the names endorsed by PBB Tanjong Datu branch to Abang Johari yesterday, but refused to name them, stating that the chief minister would announce the candidate after making a decision.
“No. Sorry I can’t give you the names until CM (Abang Johari) sees it. It is up to him to decide,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post.
According to the source, Jamilah would have no problem succeeding her husband, as she had helped Adenan to service the area over the years, besides having a wide knowledge of the area, its problem as well as the community, party leaders and members.
“Datin Patinggi (Jamilah) is no stranger to the constituents here as she is well known among the people throughout the years of helping Adenan. She has the ground support.”
Besides that, the source said being Adenan’s wife for 37 years, Jamilah truly understood his vision and dream for Tanjong Datu. This, the source said, would enable Jamilah to be a good elected representative if she was given the opportunity by the constituents. These three names were previously mentioned by The Borneo Post as among the potential candidates to replace Adenan in Tanjong Datu, apart from Adenan’s long time confidants Azmi Bujang and Bujang Helmi.
Another source from the grassroots told The Borneo Post that Abdul Aziz had started to hit the ground to get ground support for him to be the candidate.
“He is trying very hard to get ground support. He was recently seen on the ground canvassing for support,” said the source said.
On the other hand, Azmi, who is Yayasan Sarawak director and former Lundu district officer, recently told The Borneo Post that he was not interested to be the candidate for Tanjong Datu.
“I am a civil servant and I adhere strictly to professionalism within the civil service. I have found my place in Yayasan Sarawak and there are many plans I have in store for the organisation. I have no interest to stand as a candidate or to be a YB (elected representative),” he was quoted as saying then.
This comments by Azmi came despite information on the ground stating that he, together with Helmi were both keen to be the candidate for Tanjong Datu. Azizul Annuar and Helmi have yet to make their stand.
Meanwhile, political analyst Associate Prof Dr Jeniri Amir said he was almost certain that Abdul Aziz would be Abang Johari’s choice as the candidate for Tanjong Datu. Jeniri said he came to this conclusion as Abdul Aziz was experienced and often went to the ground with his father.
“He is exposed to politics being in the PBB Youth wing. I believe the people on the ground expect continuity to Adenan’s legacy. With the sympathy sentiment on the ground, Abdul Aziz is going to win big. The opposition is going to lose deposit.”
As for Jamilah, Jeniri believed that she was not keen, adding that her name was put by the PBB Tanjong Datu branch as a sign of respect for her.