A record number of multi-corner fights is on the cards for the 10th Sarawak polls with a slew of independents and minor political parties pledging to file nomination forms tomorrow.

azlan Indeed a record breaking 883 nomination forms were sold, according to the Election Commission, a figure which the Sin Chew Daily and See Hua Daily speculate is a record.

There are only 71 seats being contested.

PKR and Sarawak National Party (Snap) is expected to clash in 26 constituencies. They can expect a significant portion of these seats to be contested by other non-BN candidates as well.

In the 2006 state polls, there were only 13 seats which saw multi-cornered fights.

But this time round, a cursory tally shows that there will be about 20 three-corner fights, seven four-corner fights and two five-corner fights.

Conventional wisdom suggest that this will sour the chances of  Pakatan Rakyat, dash Snap's bid to revive itself and cause a good number of independents to lose their deposits.

But more importantly, the multi-cornered fights will almost guarantee BN to be the ultimate beneficiary due to a split opposition vote.

Mosquito parties

Of the "mosquito" parties, there is Parti Ekonomi Rakyat Sarawak Bersatu (PERSB), widely regarded as a splinter group from Sarawak BN's Parti Pusaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which swept all 35 seats it contested in 2006.

According to Sin Chew Daily , PERSB has mostly declared that it would contest in PBB held seats such as Daro, Dalat, Belawai, Kemena, Semop, Pantai Damai, Tanjung Dato and Sadong Jaya.

The party's goal is to uplift the economic status of the rural poor and bases its pledges on agricultural policies.

NONE PERSB, established last year, has yet to receive approval from the Registrar of Societies and thus will field its candidates as independents.

Penang-based Parti Cinta Malaysia is also reported in local papers to be fielding a handful of candidates.

It is confirmed that the new party, which claims to be independent, will be fielding Gabriel Adit Demong ( left ) to defend the Ngemah seat. Gabriel is also Sarawak PCM chairperson.

Independent 'heavyweights'

Two "heavyweights" would be joining the fray as independents tomorrow.

The most watched independent would most likely be former deputy education minister Salleh Jafaruddin who is going against his uncle and Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud in Balingian.

PKR has also announced it would contest in the Balingian seat, thus promising a minimum three-corner contest. There is a minute possibility that PKR might pull out.

Observers would also be keen to watch how incumbent Padungan state assemblyperson Dominique Ng, who quit PKR this morning, fares this time round as an independent.

penans meet suhakam 130208 see chee how

He has hinted that he would either defend his incumbency in Padungan, or contest in Batu Lintang, where his former party comrade See Chee How ( right ) would be contesting.

Ng's ally and also former PKR comrade Kung Chin Chin is expected to run again as an independent for the Repok seat, where DAP is contesting as well.

Kung had stood under a DAP ticket for the Repok seat in 2006, but joined PKR after the 2008 general election.

She was sacked from DAP for contesting as an independent in the 2008 general elections.