25 March 2011 Taib to submit candidates' list early next month

Tan Sri being briefed on the Syfonic Roof Drainage System by Weida (M) Bhd Head of Manufacturing and Marketing Sector () Tan Yak Khoon (right) at the Borneo Convention Centre in Kuching, yesterday. — NST picture by Mohd Kamil Rahim KUCHING: The state is shifting into high gear ahead of the April 16 election with the list of candidates expected to be ready by early next month and the manifesto to be finalised soon.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, said he would meet BN national chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak by early April to present the proposed list of 71 BN candidates.

"The list is in the stage of being finalised but not completely ready. I will present it to the BN chairman early next month," said Taib, who is also the chief minister, after officiating the Building Trade Show 2011 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, near here yesterday.

On the candidates' list for his Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Taib, who is also the president, said they would hold a meeting soon to discuss the possible names.

"I cannot reveal much as I do not want people to snoop around."

On Monday, Taib had said that PBB would field a quarter of new faces. The party contested and won 35 seats in the last state election in May 2006.

He said that the move to field a fresh crop of "young leaders" in the state election was a succession process.

He said that the fielding of these leaders would be the "biggest change" ever made to his party's election line-up.

Among those who have publicly announced that they would step down are Assistant Industrial Development Minister Datuk Dr Abang Abdul Rauf Abang Zen (), former assistant tourism minister Datuk Hamden Ahmad (Belawai), former assistant minister in the chief minister's office Datuk Bolhassan Di (), former assistant rural development minister Datuk Ambrose Belikau Enturan (), six-term incumbent Datuk Wan Abdul Wahab Wan Sanusi, Saribas assembymen Dr Wahbi Junaidi and Federick Bayoi Manggie ().

The other long-serving incumbent widely speculated to be dropped is Datuk Gramong Juna (Machan).

Of PBB's partners in the state BN coalition, SUPP won 11 out of the 19 seats it contested; Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) contested nine and won eight seats while Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) contested and won all eight seats.

BN now has 63 assemblymen after Engkili's Dr Johnichal Rayong, who contested on a Sarawak National Party (SNAP) ticket, left the party and joined SUPP last December. DAP has six assemblymen while Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Parti Cinta have one each.

SUPP president and SPDP president Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam and Datuk Seri William Mawan, respectively, had said that all their assemblymen would be retained.

PRS president Datuk Seri Dr James Masing said that all its seven assemblymen except 's Larry Sng would be retained.

Taib said the state BN was confident of getting more than a two third majority.

"We will be happy to get a two third majority. The rest I leave it to Allah."

He also said that he would continue to serve Sarawak in whatever capacity he could after his retirement.

"I think I still want to work a bit to keep my time well occupied. But I do not want to work under pressure. Enough," said Taib.

Asked on BN's manifesto, Taib said it was in the final stage of drafting and would probably be announced after the nomination day.

"It is a very short and simple one so that people can have a better understanding. The candidates will be able to use it as a basis for them to talk to their voters."

Meanwhile, state BN deputy chairman Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said they were fine-tuning the grassroots election machinery to ensure that it was in tip-top shape and able to face any eventuality.

"We have always been ready since the last state election. We have been moving at full gear, sometimes in overdrive," he said after chairing an election preparation meeting with PBB leaders at the party's headquarters here yesterday.

On the BN manifesto, Jabu said that it would centre on the politics of development.

"We will focus on 'the people first, performance now' concept and highlight the good relationship between the Sarawak government and the federal leaders."

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