S'WAK POLLS Abdul Aziz Isa had been waiting in his car since dawn, awaiting word from DAP workers in Serian whether its coalition partner, PKR, would be fielding candidates against his party.
Parked behind party supporters, Abdul Aziz bolted out and through police officers, who had barricaded the Padawan Municipal Council's southern entrance, when it was confirmed that PKR had handed in forms to contest for the Mambong state seat.
Two hours later it was officially announced by Election Commission (EC) officials that Batu Kitang, the only newly delineated seat that is urban-based, would see five candidates contesting for it.
The seat consists of areas carved out of Batu Kawah and Kota Sentosa, both controlled by DAP.
"I had to fill in the forms after midnight," Abdul Aziz said. State DAP, which had vied for the seat, had earlier given it up to appease demands by PKR in an agreement with the party's leadership two weeks ago.
But after state PKR leader Baru Bian vetoed the agreement and said he may field candidates in rural seats DAP was contesting, the party leadership took no chances.
"I've been working here for nearly a year, and the party has been campaigning here for five years. I've only left Batu Kitang the last two weeks," he disclosed.
Abdul Aziz, 26, was earlier DAP's candidate for Stakan, which has a mix of Malay and Iban constituents with a significant amount of postal voters, before he was switched to Batu Kitang.
The Unimas graduate of social science, politics and government studies said the party does not regret the decision to contest Batu Kitang: "Even if the agreement was verbal, if you had honour, you would abide by the agreement. This agreement was a written one."
'A lot more to the story'
Voon Shiak Ni, 46, the candidate PKR is fielding, declined to comment on how Abdul Aziz's candidacy would affect her campaign: "No one can be absolutely certain of the sentiments on the ground. I will try my best to deliver for my supporters."
Asked how she personally felt, she said: "I think there is a lot more to the story in this PKR, DAP (clash). So I think, I don't want to air the dirty linen in the public. There is a lot more than what is seen on the surface. Whatever it is, it is a democracy, we will take it as a challenge."
BN's nominated candidate is Lo Khere Chiang, 54, a long time bureaucrat who has been serving as Padawan's Municipal Council chairman since 2010.
Lo said he did not expect to face two candidates from the opposition: "I was surprised, to be honest."
Lo would be leveraging on his experience running the Padawan Municipal Council, which Batu Kitang falls under: "I hope the people would remember what I have contributed. and I believe I have worked hard for it, all these years. I strongly believe that given this the opportunity to be elevated from my present position to something higher, I would definitely do more for our people.
"I've been working hard. I take no salary from the council just an allowance. I enjoy my work and I find happiness in seeing people happy. I know there are still a lot of people who need assistance from the government - the fisherman and farmers - and I can use my position to do a lot more for them," Lo said.
Othman Bojeng, 59, said he has grassroots support: "I support the chief minister (Adenan Satem), but not his choice of candidate here."
He declined to name his occupation and which area he commands support from.
Sulaiman Kadir, 46, described himself as a state land activist and said he is not affiliated with BN. He said he is contesting Batu Kitang "because it is new."
Batu Kitang has 17,494 registered voters. The area is known to be populated mostly with Chinese residents. The EC no longer releases data on the ethnic or religious makeup of voters.
Sarawak goes to the polls on May 7.
