PSB incumbent could face off with at least three others in Engkilili
KUCHING: It is possible that at least three other contenders may attempt to unseat threeterm Engkilili incumbent Dr Johnichal Rayong Ngipa in the upcoming state election.
If coffee shop talk is anything to go by, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) component Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has three potential candidates – Semijie Janting, Kua Jack Seng, and Desmond Sating.
While all three are locals from the constituency, only Semijie has ever contested there.
GPS chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to only reveal the coalition’s choice for Engkilili publicly, along with its 81 other candidates, this Saturday (Dec 4).
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) has already announced its pick for the seat – Health Department pensioner Stel Datu.
Civil servant Geramong Batu is also rumoured to be keen to run as an independent candidate.
With the possibility that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) may also join the fray with a last-minute selection, the battle for Engkilili could get rather crowded.
Despite this, Rayong is unperturbed by the number of potential opponents moving around in Engkilili.
“So far not known yet. I am now in the constituency (moving around),” he told The Borneo Post.
In the 2016 state election, Rayong won a four-cornered fight on a direct Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket with a 3,857-vote majority.
He secured 5,513 votes while his closest rival, independent Ridi Bauk, garnered 1,656 votes.
PKR’s Nicholas Bawin Anggat only managed 532 votes and Adan Sandom – another independent – polled 91 votes.
Now Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) vice-president and Youth chief, Rayong is also on the PSB presidential council.
He first won the seat in 2006 for the now-defunct Sarawak National Party (SNAP).
In 2011, he succeeded in defending the seat as a BN candidate after he was roped in by SUPP.
Prior to joining PSB, which began as the United People’s Party (UPP), in February 2019, Rayong was a member of Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).
He was also involved in the Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC), formed in 2005 but never registered as a political party, by former members of the deregistered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).