BN Ba Kelalan gives Adenan mandate to choose candidate

LAWAS: Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in Ba Kelalan have unanimously voted to give BN Sarawak chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem the mandate to choose the candidate for the constituency.

During a meeting yesterday, representatives from BN component parties, community leaders, several aspiring candidates and their supporters also requested for Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan to convey their decision to Adenan.

In his speech, Lawas Member of Parliament Datuk Henry Sum Agong stressed that it was imperative for BN component parties to unite and secure a victory in Ba Kelalan in the interests of the people in this rural constituency. Among the aspiring candidates present were Barry Baru Sigar, Willie Liau, Mutang Tagal, Martin Labour, Sam Laya and Stevenson Satu.

In the 2011 state election, Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) Sarawak chief Baru Bian defeated BN-SPDP candidate Willie by a majority of 473 votes. Another potential candidate is former Ba Kelalan assemblyman Datuk Nelson Balang Rining, who defeated Baru in the seat during the 2004 by-election following the death of Datuk Dr Judson Sakai Tagal in a helicopter crash and again in the 2006 state election.

Ba Kelalan is a rural seat in the Lun Bawang heartland.