At least 20 aspiring to be BN candidate in Puncak Borneo
KUCHING: It is a crowded affair in Puncak Borneo, with at least 20 individuals showing their interest and lobbying for the seat to represent Barisan Nasional ( BN) in the forthcoming general election.
However, according to Tarat assemblyman Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, it is a normal and ‘ healthy exercise’ for the individuals to show their keen interest in wanting to contest for the seat under the BN ticket.
“For me it’s a very simple affair. There may be 10 or 20 of them who are showing their interest wanting to represent PBB in Puncak Borneo. But at the end of the day it’s up to the chief minister and the prime minister to decide,” Sagah told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
He added that it was a natural for the aspirants to lobby for the seat when the incumbent had indicated that he would not be defending the seat.
“These individuals are keen to lobby for the seat because the incumbent ( Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit) has indicated that he was not defending the seat due to health reason,” explained Sagah, a PBB supreme council member.
Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, when contacted, said aspirants for the seat must be PBB members as Puncak Borneo is a PBB stronghold.
“My advice to them is to observe the tradition of the party and to respect the elected representatives in the area. PBB is the strongest BN component party in the state, scoring 100 per cent in past elections because we are a very strict and disciplined party. In this case, whoever wants the seat must understand this steep tradition and observe party discipline,” stressed Miro.
Besides Tarat and Serembu, anotherstateseatinPuncakBorneo parliamentary constituency is Mambong, which is represented by Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, a UPP deputy president.
Sentiments on the ground indicate that there are at least 12 serious contenders for the seat. Among them are prominent lawyer and former Suhakam Sarawak commissioner Datuk Detta Samen, Dawos’ private secretary Siang Prede, Sarawak administrative officer Rangen Jamang, Cliff Mengud, Associate Professor Dr Ahi Sarok of Unimas, former state Special Branch chief Datuk Clarence Rorote, lawyer Cr Wejok Tumik, Jeannoth Sinel, Dominic Domba, businessman Albert Tanon, academician Dr Frank Kiyong and businessman Cr Brownie Marshall.
On the opposite side, it’s almost certain that PKR will field its Puncak Borneo chief Willie Mongin.
In the last general election, Dawos won the seat, then called Mambong, with a majority of 9,721 votes in a three- cornered fight against Willie and Dr Dripin Sakoi of STAR. Dawos polled 20,461 votes.
Dawos has been the MP for the area since 1999. Before joining politics, Dawos was the controller of the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB).