Batang Ai rep Dublin Unting Ingkot dies (updated)

KUCHING: Sarawak Assistant Sports Minister Datuk Dublin Unting, who was in a coma after a stroke nine months ago, died at the Normah Medical Specialist Centre here at 1.25am on Tuesday, which would see Malaysians facing yet another by-election.

The long-serving Batang Ai assemblyman was a Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president and also assistant minister for agriculture (research and coordination).

Unting, 56, suffered a stroke and fell into a coma last May while giving a radio interview at the RTM Sarawak complex here on the state contingent’s preparations for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Terengganu.

He leaves behind his wife Froline Moriah Demies Impoi and three children.

Froline said Unting was the best husband a woman could have.

”We had a beautiful 11 years together and three beautiful children, and I’m very grateful for that. We had a perfect marriage,” she said.

PRS president Datuk Dr James Masing said Unting’s demise was a loss to the state, the party and the people of Batang Ai.

“He was a gentleman politician. He never harboured ill feelings towards anybody, not even his political rivals, and he never bore grudges,” he said, adding that Unting was a dedicated assemblyman who gave his best in everything he did.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said the state Cabinet had lost a great friend who had been sincere in his duties and was well liked by all.

“He discharged his duties well. This was exemplified when he was appointed chef de mission of Sarawak’s Malaysia Games contingent and brought the state to great heights in sport,” he said.

Unting’s remains were brought to his yet-to-be-completed house in Stutong here at about 4.30pm.

He will be laid to rest at the Anglican Cemetery at Batu Kitang here on Thursday following a funeral service at St Thomas Cathedral.

By-election compulsory In PUTRAJAYA, Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said there would have to be a by-election for Batang Ai seat because the Sarawak state assembly was only over two years old and according to the state constitution, the assembly’s term ends in July 2011.

“Which means there are more than two years to go. So a by-election is necessary,” he told Bernama.

The Commission is alreeady gearing up for two by-elections: There is the now-vacated Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah, as well as the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak after its Member of Parliament Roslan Shaharum of PAS died of a heart attack on Feb 9.

The Election Commission has fixed April 7 for those two by-elections, with nomination day being March 29.

Earlier this month, Selangor executive council member and Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong, whose nude photographs were being circulated, tendered her resignation from both posts.

PKR leaders have yet to accept her resignation and instead asked her to go on leave in the meantime.

The Sarawak state election was last held on May 20 2006 and the Sarawak Barisan Nasional won 62 seats of the 71 seats contested, while nine seats fell to the opposition -- six to the DAP and two to PKR. One seat was won by an independent candidate.

Sarawak Barisan comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Sarawak United People’s Party, PRS and the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

Batang Ai is a rural constituency near the Sarawak-Kalimantan border, about three hours drive from Kuching. It had 7,997 voters in the 2006 state election, 95% of whom were Iban.

There are about 100 longhouses in Batang Ai, whose folk are mostly farmers growing rice, pepper, rubber and oil palm.