Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) will meet this Saturday to discuss preparations for the Tanjung Datu state by-election, said its women deputy head Fatimah Abdullah.

Fatimah, who is also Sarawak Welfare, Women and Community Minister, said the meeting would be held at 10.30am at the PBB headquarters in Jalan Bako, Kuching.

"The agenda to be discussed is the preparation for the Tanjung Datu by-election and the vacancy for the post of PBB president," she told reporters after presenting donations to 150 people at an event held in conjunction with Chinese New Year in Miri today.

The Tanjung Datu by-election is due to be held after Sarawak's fifth Chief Minister Adenan Satem, who was also Tanjung Datu state assemblyperson, died of heart complications on Jan 11.

Yesterday, Election Commission (EC) chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah announced that a meeting on the Tanjung Datu state by-election would be held tomorrow at the EC headquarters, Menara SPR in Putrajaya.

The meeting is expected to discuss the nomination date of the candidate, early voting, voting, and the voters' list which will be used during the Tanjung Datu by-election.

On the BN candidate for Tanjung Datu, Fatimah said an announcement would be made by Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg, who is also PBB deputy president, or PBB secretary-general Stephen Rundi Utom.

"As usual, all matters connected with the candidate will be decided through discussions and mutual agreement," she said, hoping that there would be no contest for the seat as a mark of respect for the late Adenan.

So far, opposition party PKR has been reported as not having made a decision to contest for the seat while Sarawak PAS will not contest out of respect for Adenan.

According to press reports, the candidates speculated to be selected for the Tanjung Datu by-election are Adenan's widow Jamilah Anu, his son Abdul Aziz and former Lundu district officer Azmi Bujang.

- Bernama