KUCHING: Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) will only unveil its candidate in Pujut, days before the nomination day of the by-election for the state seat scheduled on June 20.
Chief Minister and State BN chairman Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg, however, did not provide the timeline for the announcement.
The Satok assemblyman reiterated that BN was still scrutinising the list of potential candidates for the by-election.
“We have received the names (of candidates to stand in the by-election). However, it is still early for me to make any announcement.
“State BN, however, will convene a meeting on the matter when the nomination day for the by-election draw closer,” he told reporters when met at the Satok assemblyman’s service centre here today.
It was previously reported that Abang Johari said the state BN had received a list of potential candidates from Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and United People’s Party (UPP).
UPP is the splinter party of SUPP.
Asked if he would retained the same formula as adopted by BN during last year’s state poll, Abang Johari replied: “The matter is still being deliberated”.
He also took a veiled swipe at DAP when asked on the type of character BN was looking for in its candidate for the Pujut state seat slated for polling on July 4.
“I can’t divulge much. All that I can tell at the moment is our candidate is a Malaysian citizen,” he said.
A by-election was called for Pujut following the sacking of its assemblyman, Dr Ting Tiong Chin, of DAP by the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (Sarawak DUN) on May 12.
He was sacked after 70 assemblyman voted in favour of a ministerial motion moved against him for allegedly holding dual citizenship which was in violation of Article 17(1)(g) of the State Constitution of Sarawak.
Earlier, Abang Johari handed out monetary assistance to 13 mosques and surau within the Satok constituency.