Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has shortlisted three names to contest the Pelagus seat in the next state election.

Its president James Jemut Masing, who is also state land development minister, said the party wanted someone qualified to represent the constituents of whom 80 per cent were Iban.

"We have the potential candidate and three names will be submitted to the state BN top leadership to make the final decision," he told reporters at his office in the state legislative assembly building in Kuching today.

He said PRS would defend the Pelagus seat which was held by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office Larry Seng who quit PRS.

"It's up to him to contest any suitable seat but it's not Pelagus," said Masing.

He said Seng was still young and could contest in any of six potential seats if he wanted to remain an elected representative, especially for a Chinese-majority area.

In the 2006 state election, PRS won eight seats and only lost one seat - Ngemah.

The term of the Sarawak legislative assembly, which has 71 seats, will expire at the end of June next year.

- Bernama