By Lian Cheng
SELANGAU, Nov 5: It is a three-corned fight between Edwin Banta (GPS-PRS), Umpang Sabang (PH-PKR), and Independent Henry Joseph in P214 Selangau in the 15th General Election (GE15) which will poll on Nov 19.
The race for the seat started after returning officer Inting Nyami announced the three qualified contestants for the constituency at 12.50pm at the nomination centre — the Selangau Multipurpose Hall.
All three are new faces and are making their debut in this election. It isn’t easy to gauge their performance, but as political secretary to the Premier of Sarawak for seven long years, it is believed that Edwin Banta has an earlier start.
Edwin, 57, arrived at 9am sharp, flanked by Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie and Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira.
The political secretary has a dream for Selangau, his hometown. He wants to develop Selangau’s agriculture and industry as well as its infrastructure to raise the socioeconomic status of the residents in general.
Umpang, 57, a former teacher, was here as early as 8.45am.
Still Energetic and speaking with a thunderous voice, Umpang told the media that he wanted to continue contributing to society even after his retirement.
Born and raised here, he believed that there is still much to do for Selangau, including creating economic, cultural, and job opportunities, especially for the younger generation; raking in more federal development funds for the building of Selangau’s infrastructure as well as the uplifting of the spiritual growth of the faithful.
Simon Joseph, who earlier reported to be Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) candidate, did not show up. Instead, his brother, Henry Joseph, appeared at about 8.55 am.
Henry said he had no idea why his brother, who is of a different party, pulled out.
“All I know is PSB is not contesting, so I am offering myself to serve. This is my place. I was born here, I live here, so I am coming back to serve,” said Simon.
Henry, 62, a practising lawyer in Miri, decided to enter the arena because he wants to “fix whatever needs to be fixed”.
Selangau seat, made up of Tamin and Kakus, has always been a stronghold of PRS since 1990. The seat was created in 1987 and had been held by PRS through one of its top leaders Datuk Joseph Mauh Ikeh.
Mauh retired from politics in 2004 to give way to Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, who continued to exercise a tight grip on the constituency. In the 2008 General Election, Entulu even won the seat uncontested.
In 2013, experienced and influential political veteran Datuk Sng Chee Hua of Sarawak Workers Party (SWP), who was also expelled by PRS, attempted to uproot PRS from Selangau. However, he failed miserably in face of Entulu, who guarded the seat masterfully and kept it intact with an impressive majority of 7,555.
Things started to change only after the expulsion of Entulu and several leaders a few days before the 2018 General Election by former party president the late Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
Following Entulu’s expulsion, the then PKR Sarawak top leader Baru Bian was suddenly parachuted into the area and faced off with PRS candidate Senator Rita Insol. In face of an outsider and a Lun Bawang, Rita Insol, who was expected to defend the seat, lost the Iban-majority seat by a razor-thin majority of 486 votes.
Fast-forwarding to this election, Baru, who has left PKR and joined Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), did not seek to defend Selangau but readily went back to try his luck at Lawas, a constituency where his hometown is situated.
With PRS former warlords and political titans such as Entulu and Sng retiring from politics and Baru moving out of the constituency, Selangau, which used to steal the limelight and make headlines, now seems to become a little too quiet for political observers.
Perhaps their era is over. It is the beginning of a new chapter, starting with the three new faces today who are entering the race where Selangau is the trophy. — DayakDaily
