Sarawak PKR announces its 15 candidates, Baru Bian to contest Selangau

KUCHING: Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian (pic) is among 15 candidates who will contest parliamentary seats in the state.

Baru, who announced the candidates here on Wednesday (April 25), said he would contest the Selangau seat after a last-minute request from the party's branch in the area.

The request came in the wake of "recent developments", he said, referring to Parti Rakyat Sarawak's decision to sack its dropped Selangau incumbent Datuk Joseph Entulu on Sunday (April 22).

"We have just finalised this decision with the Selangau branch. I'm prepared to contest in Selangau since they have asked me to go.

"Our branch has been working very hard on the ground and I owe it to their preparation and machinery to go. I'm privileged that they have prepared the way for me," he told reporters.

Baru, who will face Barisan Nasional new face Rita Insol, said it would be a challenging fight as Selangau was a large rural constituency with some villages accessible only by boat or logging roads.

Asked whether he would be accepted by voters in the Iban-majority area as he was neither a local nor Iban, he called on voters not to look at the ethnicity of candidates.

"We should move beyond racial and communal politics and look at the quality of the candidates and their ability to raise issues for the people and speak in Parliament."

Baru, a land rights lawyer, added that many native customary rights (NCR) land cases he handled came from Selangau.

"Definitely NCR is a common issue, as well as the lack of infrastructure," he said.

Baru also said PKR decided not to field a candidate in Julau, as a strong challenge to Barisan was expected from an independent candidate.

"We thought it would be best not to go to Julau so there will be a straight fight between Barisan and the independent, who has indicated he will join Pakatan Harapan if he wins," he said.

The independent is understood to be former state assistant minister and former Sarawak Workers Party president Larry Sng

Sarawak Amanah also announced its six candidates together with PKR.

DAP announced its candidates last week and on Monday (April 23).

With Baru's announcement, the Pakatan line-up for the state's parliamentary seats are complete.

State seats in Sarawak are not being contested at GE14 as there was a state election in May 2016.

Sarawak PKR candidates:

Petra Jaya - Datuk Dr Nor Irwan Ahmad Nor

Puncak Borneo - Willie Mongin

Sri Aman - Norina Utot

Lubok Antu - Nicholas Bawin

Betong - Noel Bucking

Saratok - Ali Biju

Kanowit - Satu Anchom

Mukah - Abdul Jalil Bujang

Selangau - Baru Bian

Hulu Rajang - Abun Sui Anyit

Sibuti - Jemat Panjang

Miri - Dr Michael Teo

Baram - Roland Egan

Limbang - Dr Ricardo Baba

Lawas - Danny Piri

Sarawak Amanah candidates:

Santubong - Mohamad Fidzuan Zaidi

Kota Samarahan - Sopian Julaihi

Batang Sadong - Othman Mustapha

Batang Lupar - Narudin Mentali

Tanjong Manis - Mohamad Fadillah Sabali

Igan - Andri Zulkarnaen Hamdan