S'WAK POLLS | LIVE BLOG DAY 1 The battle for the Land of the Hornbills officially begins today, with nomination period kicking off at 9am.
Up for grabs are 82 state legislative assembly seats, including 11 new constituencies carved out in last year's redelineation exercise.
Pakatan Harapan may be off to a messy start, after PKR called for seat re-negotiations at the 11th hour yesterday.
This is after news broke out that Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian may sign a letter allegedly issued by party deputy president Azmin Ali authorising PKR representatives to contest in Tasik Biru, Mambong, Simanggang, Bukit Semuja and Mulu.
Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen
retaliated
by saying they would contest in Batu Kitang should PKR field candidates in those five seats.
It will not be a walk in the park for BN either, with SUPP, UPP, SPDP and Teras expected to get into the ring against each other in Tasik Biru, Batu Kawah and Bawang Assan.
Parties have until 10am to submit their nominations. Sarawak goes to the polls on May 7.
Follow our LIVE BLOG as the Malaysiakini team in Sarawak brings you the news as it happens. (Scroll down to see our photo gallery.)
Latest developments
- PKR and DAP face each other in six seats - Batu Kitang, Mambong, Ngemah, Simanggang, Mulu and Murum.
- PKR deputy president Azmin Ali confims he instructed Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian to issue authorisation letter to five candidates for seats earlier allocated to DAP.
- BN strongman Awang Tengah Ali Hassan wins Bukit Sari constituency uncontested. BN also won Bukit Kota uncontested.
10.40pm - Kuching: DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang apologises at a ceramah here for Pakatan Harapan's failure to ensure straight fights and promises to work harder.
He adds that Adenan Satem will still be Sarawak chief minister after the election but urges voter not to give him an absolute victory.
DAP claimed that it was supposed to contest in Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Ngemah and Mambong against BN but PKR fielded their own candidate too, prompting DAP to retaliate by fielding a candidate in Batu Kitang which it had initially agreed to allow PKR to contest.
Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen appeals for voters to support DAP's candidate for Batu Kitang Abddul Aziz Isa and says fielding a Malay candidate in a Chinese constituency is proof that the party was multi-racial.
The ceramah of 4000 people also raises over RM6,000 in contributions. It also sells some 100 Ubah soft toys at RM20 each.
10.15pm - Miri : In a small restaurant on the outer edges of town, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang preaches to the reverted on why constituents in Chinese majority Pujut should vote for the Islamist party's candidate.
Speaking to a 50 strong audience, who are not Chinese, Hadi denies that PAS was a racist party, saying that DAP is worse.
He also assures that PAS as an Islamist party would be fair to all Sarawakians, regardless of race and religion.
He adds there was no reason Sarawakians should not accept PAS.
"If capitalism, whose icon is Adam Smith, and socialism, whose icon is Karl Marx, both of whom were not Iban, Chinese, or Malay, can be accepted, why not Islam?" he says.
Later when speaking to the press, Hadi says PKR is to blame for three-way fights with PAS in Kakus, Jepak and Lambir as the Islamist party had announced their candidates much earlier.
10.00pm - Pelawan, Sibu: Those at DAP's ceramah here are taken by surprise as the family members of sailors recently kidnapped off the coast of Sabah takes the stage.
In an emotional appeal, they get on their knees and ask for help as the family members have yet to be able to raise enough money for the ransom.
The family members are native to Sibu.
Earlier, DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua makes a surprise appearance despite an immigration ban.
Speaking through Skype to a ceramah of over 400 people, Pua speaks of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's multi-billion ringgit deposits in his personal bank accounts.
The ceramah takes place in front of a local cafe with a truck serving as a makeshift stage.
It is understood that Pua's skype talk was also streamed to ceramah in Kuching, Miri and Bintulu.
However, the internet connection is unstable and inaudible at certain intervals.
The live stream is cut short but organisers promises to do better next time.
9pm - Batu Kawah: SUPP kicks off its ceramah in the constituency where its president Dr Sim Kui Hian will be contesting with interesting material being distributed.
One such material is an anti-DAP comic which sells of the story of a bee - SUPP's official mascot - fighting off alien Rockets, in apparent reference to DAP being originally from peninsula Malaysia.
They also distribute Sim's biodata with an image of him riding on a hornbill, which is ironically DAP's official mascot.
Some 700 people are present as five other SUPP election hopefuls for the seats of Padungan, Pending, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kitang, Batu Lintang are set to speak.
Batu Kawah is a do-or-die battle for Sim and SUPP particularly after seven of the party's traditional seats were allocated to splinter party UPP.
SUPP is determined to wrest this seat as it was captured by DAP by a razor thin majority in the last state election.
6:15pm - Marudi: Locals are witnessing rare traffic congestion for almost six hours after the nomination process.
The long queue of four-wheel drive vehicles adorned with party flags are waiting for a ferry to take them across the Baram River.
On the other side lies the notoriously bumpy Jalan Marudi, which leads to the nearest city of Miri.
Locals say such congestion is rare, but can happen during major events such as Hari Gawai, Christmas, and of course, elections.
The ferry can take eight cars at a time, and two ferries normally operate simultaneously.
For a fare of RM1 per car, it will take the vehicles and unload them on the opposite bank in under four minutes.
The fare was RM15 per car until Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem announced that it would be lowered, along with another Baram River crossing further upstream.
However, the opposition too takes credit for this. In its campaigning in and around Marudi, PKR is saying that it would not had happened if its Telang Usan candidate Roland Engan had not raised the issue.
This, it tells voters, is the value of having a strong opposition.
3.17pm - Pujut , Miri : BN direct candidate Hii King Chiong says he is contesting so he can join 'Team Adenan' to fight for Sarawak autonomy.
"We do not aim to defeat anyone but rather we want to send a strong and firm message to the federal government.
"That is, the people of Sarawak seek to reclaim the state’s constitutional rights as provided in the federal constitution made 53 years ago," Hii says in a statement released soon after his nomination was confirmed.
Hii adds he's also contesting to bring development to Pujut.
"As a businessperson, I always hold to the belief that 'creating social value is more important than building personal wealth'."
2.47pm - Kuching: DAP begins its attack on PKR in Bukit Kitang where both parties are contesting.
State DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen alleges that PKR candidate Voon Shiak Ni's proposer is a bankrupt, and the EC would have rejected Voon's nomination had it been only PKR from Pakatan Harapan contesting against BN.
By this, the DAP MP also implies that EC is assisting BN in ensuring the anti-BN vote is split further between DAP, PKR and the two independent candidates.
1.40pm: Malaysiakini sources on the ground confirm PKR and DAP will face each other in six seats.
This is based on announcements made by returning officers in the respective seats.
The seats are Batu Kitang, Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Ngemah and Mambong.
1.30pm - Pantai Damai: The Election Commission rejects the nomination of the PKR nominated candidate for Pantai Damai Morni Shamsudin, Bernama reports.
It is understood this is because Morni's proposer is found to be a bankrupt.
This sets the stage for a straight fight between BN and PAS.
1.20pm - Dudong, Sibu: DAP's Dudong candidate Yap Hoi Liong is lodging a police report against his contender Tiong Thai King of BN for allegedly campaignig before the end of nomination period.
"Even on April 19, he was already distributing flyers and asking people to vote for him,” he tells Malaysiakini when contacted, stressing this is against the election laws.
He says he only found out this morning when he received a call from friend.
“We have to obey the law, the starting point for all must be equal, even though you (Tiong) are rich has a lot of resources,” he adds, saying he will also report to the matter to the Election Commission.
Tiong, who was formerly with United People's Party (UPP), is contesting as BN direct candidate, for the second time.
He is the brother of Ribunan Hijau Group founder and billionaire Tiong Hiew King.
1.15pm - Miri: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng says he feels "shortchanged" by PKR, who reneged on an earlier agreement to authorise candidates in five seats earlier allocated to DAP.
"It's not just one seat, it's five seats. If one seat, we understand and can try to overlook, but five seats. How can we overlook this?" he asks.
12.45pm, Senadin, Miri: Four-term incumbent assemblyperson for Senadin Lee Kim Shin is defending his seat against a DAP dentist and a Dayak martial artist.
His DAP opponent is Bob Baru Langub, who was accompanied to the nomination earlier by party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
The third contender is local martial artist Philemon John Endau who is from the Dayak party PBDS-Baru.
The 39-year-old mixed martial arts fighter is contesting to help his hometown and fellow Sarawakians.
"I want to fight for anak Sarawak (Sarawakians)," Philemon says.
Lee almost lost the seat in 2011, winning against PKR's Michael Teo with a razor thin majority of 58 votes.
12.40pm - Marudi: The Election Commission accepts all nominations received for the Mulu constituency, setting the stage for a multi-corner fight between DAP, PKR, BN, and an independent candidate.
Three nominations for Marudi and two in Telang Usan are also confirmed without incident.
PKR's Mulu candidate Pauls Baya says he is merely acting on instructions from PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and the state party leadership.
"They gave me the watikah (authorisation letter), and said 'You go', and I went. Because they said I deserve it," he says.
Meanwhile, his DAP counterpart Paul Raja says it is awkward to face an ally in an election, but stressed that agreements should be honoured.
"As far as we are concerned, we stick to the agreement whether it is oral or written. I believe it is the honour of the parties concerned, so we stick to that," he says.
The PKR and DAP candidates neverthless pose together for press photographers, alongside BN candidate Gerawat Gala and SPDP-turned-independent candidate Dr Roland Dom Mattu.
12.35pm - Shah Alam, Selangor: PKR deputy president Azmin Ali confirms he instructed Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian to issue authorisation letters for PKR candidates in five seats earlier allocated to DAP. [ Read more here ]
12.30pm - Pujut, Miri: It's official - there is a four-corner fight in Pujut between DAP's Dr Ting Tiong Choon, BN direct candidate Hii King Chiong, PAS' Jofrie Jaraie and independent incumbent Fong Pau Teck.
Fong chooses to contest using a key as his logo, and is using the 'Sarawak for Sarawakians' movement as part of his campaign.emb
The DAP (far right), PAS (in blue) and independent (in black) candidates taking on BN in Pujut #SarawakElection pic.twitter.com/IGYrBgiOCt
— Zikri Kamarulzaman (@zikri) April 25, 2016
Ting says he was confident that Sarawakians are mature enough to pick the right candidate.
On Hii's influence as a tycoon, the DAP candidate says while BN has a lot of power, influence, and the government's backing, the opposition has the people's support.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang leaves it to God. "InsyaAllah (God willing)," he says when asked if Jofrie can win.
12.15pm - Batu Kawah, Kuching: Returning officer Andrew Joris Noyem announces that no nominations have been rejected.
A three-corner fight begins in Batu Kawah between SUPP's Dr Sim Kui Hian, DAP's Christina Chew and independent candidate Liu Thian Leong.
12.00pm - Bukit Assek, Sibu: The returning officer announces that there will be a three-corner fight in Bukit Assek between SUPP's Cheng Buong Toon, DAP's Irene Chang and State Reform Party (Star)'s Moh Hong King.
Supporters cheer and applaud each candidate, while the candidates shake hands and wish each other luck.
The candidates and supporters pose for pictures before dispersing.
11.50am: Malaysiakini understands that both DAP and PKR have submitted their candidacy in five seats - Batu Kitang, Mambong, Ngemah, Simanggang and Murum.
Apart from Batu Kitang, the Election Commission has yet to announce the candidates for the remaining four seats.
11.46am - Kuching: Sarawak BN chief Adenan Satem says BN has won another seat uncontested - Bukit Kota.
Only BN candidate Abd Rahman Ismail submitted his nomination by close of nomination period at 10am, Bernama reported.
11.43am: PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli says party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail did not sign authorisation letters for PKR to contest against DAP in the seats of Mulu, Mambong, Simanggang, Ngemah and Murum.
"We have confirmed with Kak Wan (Wan Azizah). She denied (signing them)," Rafizi tells Malaysiakini via text message.
11.21 am - Padawan Municipal Council, Kuching:
EC officials confirm Batu Kitang will see five candidates contesting for the seat - SUPP's Lo Khere Chiang, DAP's Abdul Aziz Isa, PKR's Voon Shiak Ni and independent candidates Othman Bojeng and Sulaiman Kadir.
10.50am - Bawang Assan, Sibu: BN candidate Wong Soon Koh is surprised that one of the independent candidates there is Watson Bangau John Nathan Renang.
Wong claims Watson is a grassroots leader of Sarawak BN anchor party PBB.
"I have known Watson for a long time. He is well-known as he is from the Bangau family...
"I am not only disappointed but also shocked that my contender comes from PBB.
"It is shocking. I thought all parties are friendly to each other, so I don't know why he must contest against a BN candidate," says Wong, who resigned from United People's Party to stand as a direct BN candidate.
10.52am - Muara Tuang: Candidates from PAS and its splinter party Amanah will battle it out in Muara Tuang. They also face BN in a three-corner fight, Bernama reports
10.43am - Bukit Sari: BN candidate Awang Tengah Ali Hassan wins the Bukit Sari constituency uncontested, Bernama reports.
#PRNSarawak2016 Calon BN, Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan menang tanpa bertanding di kerusi N82 Bukit Sari - SPR pic.twitter.com/Ls8YSsfjRz
— BERNAMA Radio (@bernamaradio) April 25, 2016
10.11am - Sibu: Amanah Youth vice president Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin says he has joined the list of "undesirables" deported from Sarawak.
In a statement, Shazni says he arrived at Sibu airport at 7.57am only to be told he is on the ban list and is asked to return to the Peninsula.
“If the fact that I am the opposition is the reason for his denial, then it is clear Adenan Satem has failed to understand the meaning of democracy that he is riding on to hold on to power as Sarawak chief minister,” says the Amanah leader.
Sibu. Aku datang. #HarapanBaru pic.twitter.com/1WjSLqr7eE
— Shazni Munir (@shazni_munir) April 24, 2016
10.00am: Nominations close for the 11th Sarawak election.
9.50 am - Padawan Municial Council, Kuching: DAP party workers say its Batu Kitang candidate Abdul Aziz Isa waited in his vehicle until 9.15am before alighting to hand over his nomination forms, after hearing word that PKR would be contesting Mambong against DAP.
9.45am - Bau: Despite candidacy dispute between incumbent Peter Nansian (Teras) and successor Henry Jinep (BN-SPDP), Nansian displays BN solidarity by showing up to support Jinep at the Dewan Suarah Bau, the nomination centre for Tasik Biru.
"Yes. I am here to support BN," Nansian tells reporters amid 600 BN supporters who wave BN, SPDP and PRS flag who chant "Hidup BN" (Long live BN).
Nansian defected from SPDP to splinter party Teras, and failed to secure the mandate from Sarawak BN chief Adenan Satem to defend his seat.
On the other end, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang says the semi-rural Tasik Biru can be the catalyst for change in rural seats.
He optimistically opines that DAP will capture Tasik Biru, a Bidayuh-majority seat.
"I am here to support the party to expand outside the urban area (which are traditional stronghold for DAP)," he tells reporters while the accompanying 40 party supporters shout the party slogan "Ubah".
Lim also claims that he did not see PKR Serembu team, denying cold relations with PKR over seat allocations.
PKR and DAP might be contesting against each other in six seats.
9.35am - Marudi: The nomination process is now well underway in three separate locations in Marudi town, one for each of the three state constituencies under the parliamentary constituency of Baram.
Outside each of the three locations, the situation is calm apart from the low but excited noise of chatter and the occasional hum of aircraft flying in and out of the nearby Marudi airstrip.
There are more than a hundred PKR supporters waiting outside each nomination centre - one for Marudi, one for Telang Usan, and one for Mulu.
However, they are outnumbered many times over at each location by BN supporters.
Meanwhile outside Dewan Suarah Marudi where the Mulu nomination is taking place, about 100 supporters DAP's Paul Raja are also present and waiting quietly.
Mulu is likely to see a four-corner fight between him, PKR's Pauls Baya, BN's Gerawat Gala, and the independent Dr Roland Dom Mattu.
A three-corner fight is also brewing in the Marudi state constituency, between PKR's Elia Bit, BN's Penguang Manggil, and the independent Louis Jalong.
Over at the nomination centre for Telang Usan, the stage looks set for a straight fight between PKR's veteran anti-Baram Dam campaigner Roland Engan and the BN's incumbent assemblyperson Dennis Ngau.
Nominations will close at 10am, where the returning officers would make a formal announcement.
9.32am - Bukit Assek, Sibu: Three candidates, SUPP's Cheng Buong Toon, DAP's Irene Chang and State Reform Party (Star)'s Moh Hong King enter the nomination center.
They submit their nomination papers to Election Commission officers one after another, while the officers explain the election rules and chat with them to ease tensions.
This is the second time SUPP's Cheng is contesting for the Chinese majority seat, after he lost to Chang's late husband and former DAP state chief Wong Ho Leng by more than 8,000 votes in 2011.
As for Moh, he was formerly with DAP.
Half an hour since the nomination process started, everything is smooth and no other candidate is seen coming in the Sibu Public Library, where the nomination centre is.
9.30am - Kuching: DAP retaliates against PKR by sending candidate Abdul Aziz Isa to contest in Batu Kitang, a seat earlier allocated to PKR.
This after PKR authorises five candidates to contest for seats where DAP candidates are set to do battle.
Batu Kitang is expected to see a multi-corner fight, featuring SUPP, PKR, DAP and possibly two independent candidates.
Voon Shiak Ni represents PKR while Lo Khere Chiang represents SUPP.
The two independent candidates are Sulaiman Kadir and Othman Bojeng.
9.24am - Kapit: Umno vice-president and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi accompanies BN candidate James Masing to submit his nomination forms, flanked by other BN supporters, Bernama reports.
Almost the entire federal cabinet is in Sarawak to support the BN team.
#PRNSarawak2016 : Calon N.64 Baleh, TS Dr James Masing (BN-PRS) diiringi DS Dr Ahmad Zahid bersama penyokong di Kapit pic.twitter.com/iltYPkskBw
— BERNAMA Radio (@bernamaradio) April 25, 2016
9.20am - Miri: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang accompanies party candidate Jofri Jaraiee.
PAS president Hadi Awang accompanies Pujut candidate Jofrie Jaraiee @malaysiakini pic.twitter.com/X2seAbz9MQ
— Zikri Kamarulzaman (@zikri) April 25, 2016
He is seen holding hands with other party leaders as the delegation marches ot the nomination centre.
Meanwhile, DAP's Pujut candidate Dr Ting Tiong Choon heckled by BN supporters as his group shouts "Tolak GST".
DAP's Pujut candidate Dr Ting Tiong Choon heckled by BN supporters as his group shouts "Tolak GST" pic.twitter.com/lGRDW4TZgm
— Zikri Kamarulzaman (@zikri) April 25, 2016
9.07am - Ba'kelalan : Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian confirms the party's prospective candidates in five contentious seats have received the authorisation letter from the party to contest.
"They are at their respective constituencies now, namely Mulu, Mambong, Simanggang, Ngemah and Murum," he tells Malaysiakini via telephone.
"Before 10am, we will call them to inform them whether to contest or not."
Baru, who is defending his seat in Be'kalan, however, does not want to say who signed the letter to authorise the candidates to contest the seats DAP will also contest.
Baru also refuses to comment on the possibility of DAP fielding its candidate in Batu Kitang to fight PKR candidate Voon Shiak Ni, in retaliation.
9.05am - Bawang Assan, Sibu: Beng Kor, an independent candidate, arrives at Dewan Suarah Sibu nomination centre with a handful of supporters.
This is the Kapit-born activist's first time contesting in an election, and he is running to push the 'Sarawak for Sarawakians' agenda.
"Sarawak for Sarawakians want to fight for the rights of Sarawak, whether we remain in Malaysia, or seceded. This is our right and it is the most important thing.
"This right to self-determination has been recognised by the United Nations and has been denied to us," he says.
Meanwhile, BN candidate Wong Soon Koh and DAP candidate Chiew Sung Ngie submits their nomination papers to the Election Commission officials.
9.00am - Kuching: Batu Kawah is expected to be a three-corner fight between SUPP, DAP and and independent candidate.
DAP candidate Christina Chew is accompanied by 50 supporters while SUPP president and candidate Dr Sim Kui Hian arrives with 300 supporters.
Independent candidate Liu Thian Leong is backed by 100 people.
Meanwhile, PKR's Batu Lintang candidate See Chee How cycles to the nomination centre.
8.50am - Bau: DAP and PKR representatives give each other the cold shoulder when they bump into one another near the Dewan Suarah Bau nomination centre for Tasik Biru and Serembu.
DAP is contesting Tasik Biru while PKR is contesting Serembu, but tensions are high after PKR yesterday insists to contest Tasik Biru.
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, who joins DAP's Tasik Biru candidate Mordi Bimol's team to march to the nomination centre bump into PKR candidate for Serembu Athina Sim's team, but there is hardly interaction and no handshakes between them.
8.45am - Bawang Assan, Sibu: About 50 DAP supporters walk towards Dewan Suarah Sibu with the party's Bawang Assan candidate Chiew Sung Ngie.
Chiew, 38, a businessman, tells reporters he expects a tough three-corner fight.
He is expected to go against BN's candidate Wong Soon Koh, an incumbent state minister and State Reform Party (Star)'s Wong Sing Wei.
About 50 BN supporters are gathering, while waiting for Soon Koh, along with United People's Party's mascot, the eagle named 'Oooh Ha'.
8.30am - Bukit Assek, Sibu: Around 30 DAP supporters are marching from Wong Ho Leng & Co Advocates, DAP's Bukit Assek candidate Irene Chang's law firm, to the nomination center.
Chang is the wife of late DAP state chief and former Bukit Assek assemblyperson Wong Ho Leng.
Accompanied by DAP's Sibu MP Oscar Ling, Chang, who is clad in a white shirt and black skirt, seems to be in good spirit as she marches with flag-waving party supporters.
Meanwhile, 200 SUPP supporters clad in blue shirts reading 'Barisan Nasional, established in 1973' are gathering in front of the nomination centre.
They are holding a mix of SUPP and BN flags.
SUPP is expected to field Chieng Buong Toon, their only candidate left in Sibu area, after other traditional seats has been occupied by United People's Party, its splinter party.
Accompanied by wife, Chieng flexes his biceps for a photo opportunity, to show he is in great form.
The weather is windy and gloomy, with rain expected soon.
8.15am - Pujut, Miri: Things are very peaceful in the heart of Miri town, where a four-cornered fight between a BN tycoon and three other candidates is likely to take place.
Election Commission officers are having a quick breakfast in the nomination hall before things get underway an hour from now.
A senior police officer chatting with the media says things are different in Sarawak compared to Peninsular Malaysia, and that there is rarely a commotion.
The Pujut seat, currently held by DAP, will be contested by incumbent assemblyperson Fong Poh Teck as an independent, DAP's Dr Ting Tiong Choon, BN direct candidate Hii King Chiong and PAS' Jofrie Jaraiee.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is expected to make an appearance here, accompanying Jofrie.
8.00am - Marudi : Pakatan Harapan allies DAP and PKR appear to be on a collision course in the Mulu state constituency.
In Marudi town where nominations for Mulu, Marudi, and Telang Usan are taking place, supporters for the Mulu DAP candidate-designate Paul Raja and his PKR counterpart Pauls Baya have gathered outside their respective offices as they prepare to march off to the nomination centre.
If their candidacy is confirmed by the Election Comission, the stage would be set for a three-corner fight in Mulu, which was formed during last year's redelineation exercise.
Created with flickr slideshow .
[More to follow]
