9am to 10am: Nomination period

10am to 11am: Objection period

11am to 12 noon: EC to make official announcement on candidates

The 10th Sarawak election is under way with the nomination process kicking off at 9am throughout the state. This will be followed by 10 days of campaigning with polling on April 16.

Judging by the many months of build-up, the polls promise to be an exciting affair, which will see BN pulling out all stops to defend its position held since the last state election on May 20, 2006.

BN suffered a setback in that election, losing eight seats mostly in the Chinese-dominated Kuching area and also the rural Dayak-majority seats of Engkilili and Ngemeh.

The rival Pakatan Rakyat coalition, backed by its experience of governing several states in Peninsular Malaysia, is offering Sarawakians an alternative government.

Adding to the excitement is the large number of multi-cornered fights expected with parties such as Sarawak National Party (Snap), Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) and Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak (PERS) joining the fray in a sizable number of hotly-contested bumiputera-majority seats.

The focus will also be on a handful 'heavyweights' standing as Independents, including former deputy education minister Salleh Jafaruddin who is challenging Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud in Balingian.

There will also be heated contests in some rural seats where there is disquiet over the government handling of native customary rights to land, deforestation and the building of massive hydro-electric dams.

In urban areas, BN is expected to play its tried-and-tested ‘Vote BN for development’ card against an opposition onslaught of national issues and calls to replace Sarawak's crop of aging government leaders.

LIVE REPORTS

8.45am: Balingian - About 300 PBB supporters have gathered at a mosque, 1km from the nomination centre, with more expected to trickle in. In this state seat in the Mukah district, long-time CM Abdul Taib Mahmud will defend his seat against PKR's Suriati Abdullah and a surprise Independent candidate, Salleh Jafaruddin, who is a cousin of Taib.

Salleh ( left ) arrives with his wife and five supporters at 7.20am.

The 67-year-old former deputy education minister, who has not been in active politics for more than 20 years, said he thought that nominations were to be filed from 8am...