By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Dec 3: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Azizul Annuar Adenan hopes that the constituents of Tanjung Datu will give him a chance to serve without linking him to his family background.
The 30-year-old did not deny that there are certain quarters who think that his candidacy is based on family ties and involvement in politics.
“But I can assure you that I have my own capabilities and credibility to serve.
“I think the people of Tanjong Datu can evaluate my (hard work) and that my own self is not just based on my family background,” he told reporters at the GPS’ full candidate list for the State’s 82 constituencies announcement today.
Azizul Annuar is the youngest son of the former Chief Minister of Sarawak, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.
Adenan first won Tanjung Datu with 4,136 majority votes under the Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket in the 2006 Sarawak Election, beating Sobey Daud of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and independent Larry Dominic Linang.
He then went on to successfully defend his seat in the 2011 and 2016 Sarawak Election.
However, following Adenan’s passing on Jan 11, 2017, his wife Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu took over Tanjung Datu from his husband by winning the Feb 19 by-election with a majority of 6,443 votes against her two competitors.
Recently, Jamilah expressed her wish to step down from politics and pass the baton to her son.
On Dec 1, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg confirmed Azizul’s candidacy for the seat, adding that the latter is now well-prepared and he has the required potential and background as a leader.
Azizul has been involved in politics since 2018 and is the current Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Tanjung Datu Youth chief.
He has a Degree in Economics from Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia. — DayakDaily
