KUCHING, April 25: State Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman Baru Bian has announced that he will contest in the Selangau parliamentary seat which will pit him against Barisan Nasional (BN) new face Rita Insol from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) in the 14th general election.
PKR has also decided not to field any candidate in Julau to make way for independent candidate Larry Sng, for a straight fight against BN which will be represented by incumbent Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum from PRS.
In a joint press conference by PKR and Amanah announcing their candidates respectively, Baru said the decision to contest in Selangau was because of the request by the PKR branch there and people on the ground.
Baru, a Lun Bawang from Ba’ Kelalan, acknowledged it would be a huge challenge to contest in the Iban majority area, which covers vast remote areas that requires travel via boat and through logging roads.
Hoping that the locals would look beyond racial differences, Baru said there are many crucial issues concerning the locals, such as native customary rights (NCR) land and poor infrastructure.
The prominent native land rights lawyer said most of the NCR cases are from Tamin and Kakus, the state constituencies which form the Selangau parliamentary seat.
As for Julau, Baru said Sng is friendly towards Pakatan Harapan and he hoped that Sng would join them after winning the seat.
Other PKR candidates are Datuk Dr Nor Irwan Ahmad Nor (Petra Jaya), Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo), Norima Umoi Utot (Sri Aman), Nicholas Bawin Anggat (Lubok Antu), Noel Changgai Bucking (Betong), Ali Biju (Saratok), Satu Anchom (Kanowit), Abdul Jalil Bujang (Mukah), Abun Sui Anyit (Hulu Rajang), Jemat Penjang (Sibuti), Dr Michael Teo (Miri), Roland Engan (Baram), Dr Ricardo Yampil Baba (Limbang) and Danny Piri (Lawas).
Amanah also announced their six candidates, namely Mohamd Fidzuan Zaidi (Santubong), Sopian Julaihi (Kota Samarahan), Othman Mustafa (Batang Sadong), Narudin Mentali (Batang Lupar), Mohamad Fadillah Sabali (Tanjung Manis) and Andri Zulkarnaen Hamdan (Igan). — DayakDaily
