SARAWAK Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg scored a thumping win in the rural seat of Gedong, picking 4,310 votes for a 3,607-vote majority.

The candidate that came closest to him in the four-horse race, Mohamad Sofian Fariz Sharbini of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), only managed a mere 703 votes.

The two trailing candidates – Tomson Ango of Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and Cikgu Kamal of Pakatan Harapan (PH) – only managed 157 votes and 94 votes respectively.

Abang Johari, who had been the assemblyman for the urban Kuching seat of Satok for eight terms, made the switch to Gedong to pave the way for Ibrahim Baki to contest in Satok.

The statistics showed the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president had picked 81.9% of the 5,264 votes cast with a local turnout of 73.1%.

Meanwhile, acting Sarawak PKR chairman Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh suffered an embarrassing defeat in his quest for the seat of Betong Maro.

He was unsuccessful in unseating GPS’s Razaili Gapor and lost his deposit in the process.

PBK’s Jacky Chiew, also lost his deposit in the predominantly Malay constituency when he managed to pick a mere 74 seats.

Razali collected 3,769 votes to win by 1,711 votes. His nearest challengers turned out to be PAS’s Arif Paijo, who picked up 2,058 votes.

An independent, Safiudin Matsah, also lost his deposit when he managed to get only 636 votes.

The turnout was 65.8% or 7,302 of the 11,094 registered voters.

According to the Elections Commission, GPS has won 18 seats, while Parti Sarawak Bersatu has taken two seats as of 7.50pm.

There are 82 seats in the Sarawak assembly. – December 18, 2021.