THE Dudong constituency in central Sarawak will be the most contested seat in the state elections, with eight candidates fighting to replace the one-term incumbent, Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s (PSB) Tiong Thai King, who had opted not to defend the suburban seat.

PSB has picked businessman Wong Hie Ping to defend the seat, which timber tycoon Tiong contested as a Barisan Nasional candidate in the 2016 elections.

Wong will face Paul Ling Fong of DAP, Jane Lau Sing Yee from Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK), Julius Enchana of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), Josephine Lau of Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak, Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s Tiong King Sing and two independents, Engga Unchat and one who goes by one name only, Cardock.

The Election Commission’s head of communications, Azlan Charles, said Cardock is actually Fadhil Mohd Isa, adding that he had not committed any wrongdoing as it is permitted for candidates to use a different name on the ballot paper.

The reason, Azlan said, could be that the electorates in that constituency probably know him better by his nickname Cardock.

Seven constituencies will see six-cornered fights, 24 five-cornered, 33 four-cornered, 13 three-cornered and only four will see a straight fight.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president Abang Johari Openg will face off with three others for the rural seat of Gedong.

Abang Johari, who left the safe seat of Satok which he had held for eight terms for the rural seat of Gedong, will square off against “Cikgu” Kamal of Amanah, Mohamad Sofian Fariz Sharbibi of PSB and Tonso Ango of PBK.

At the end of the nomination process at 10am today, the candidacy of 349 people – 82 from GPS, 73 from the pro-independence PBK, PSB (70), PKR (28), DAP (26), Aspirasi (15), PBDSB (11), Amanah (8), Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (5) and PAS (1) – were accepted.

Of the 349, men dominated the field with 304 candidates, while women made up only 45.

The nomination of two persons, PBK’s pick for Jemoreng and an independent who had submitted his paper at Senadin, were rejected on grounds their nomination papers were “incomplete”.

EC chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said the seconder of the prospective PBK candidate withdrew his support for him while the Senadin independent’s nomination was rejected as both his proposer and seconder were not registered voters in the constituency.

Among some of the little trivias of the election, PSB president and incumbent for Bawang Assan, Wong Soon Koh, is the oldest candidate contesting at 79 years’ old.

Cherishe Ng Phuay Hui (PKR) and Olivia Lim Wen Sia (PBK) are the youngest candidates.

The majority of candidates – 141 – are above the age of 60, with 113 in the 50–59 age group, 50 in the 40–49 age group, 37 in the 30–39 group and only eight are aged between 21 and 29. – December 6, 2021.