The clearest hint that parliamentary elections could be around the corner has come from one of the longest serving Barisan Nasional leaders in the country.

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud - leader who has been in power for 22 years - told local newspapers that the Sarawak Barisan Nasional was all geared up for the general election.

A confident Taib, who heads the four-member ruling coalition in the state, appeared undeterred by the problems that might have beset the Sarawak BN internally in being returned to all 28 parliamentary seats.

This time, the only real threat may probably come from the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) but this will be confined to only a few constituencies - Bandar Kuching, Bintulu, Bandar Sibu and Sarikei.

Sarawak United Peoples' Party (Supp)'s once-popular Song Swee Guan - who wrested Bandar Kuching from the then DAP's Sim Kwang Yang and held the seat successively for two

consecutive terms until he was forced to resign earlier this year due to personal problems - may be difficult to replace, however.

Two names have frequently been mentioned - businessman-cum-politician senator Wee Kok Tiong, who is son of the late millionaire-businessman and former Malaysian Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Wee Boon Ping, and a local councillor Lau Kim Yong.

Fate of Bandar Kuching

The Chinese-majority Bandar Kuching constituency is a sophisticated seat which has a record of going either way.

But trying to beat the BN-Supp candidate is likely to be a formidable task, considering the party's strong network among Chinese guilds and associations and cultural groups, and the track record of the party's performance.

The DAP candidate is expected to be a lawyer Chong Chieng Jen, son of a former Supp state assemblyperson and later DAP leader in Sarawak, Chong Siew Chiang.

DAP's chances are also rated as good in Bintulu, and this has been admitted by several BN leaders.

The DAP's sole assemblyperson in the state legislative assembly Chiew Ching Sing is expected to stand against the incumbent from Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) Tiong King Sing.

In Sibu, where DAP is also active, Wong Ho Leng , the DAP state chief, is likely to take on the incumbent Robert Lau Hoi Chew. Wong, however, has conceded that the party will face tremendous odds to unseat Lau.

Whether the Sarawak National Party (Snap) will contest in the elections will depend on the outcome of the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Dec 3 regarding its application for a judicial review on last year's decision by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to deregister it.

Snap deputy president Justine Jinggut declined comments as the matter is still before the court, but hoped that there would not be any postponement.

PBDS awaits ROS decision

The fate of another BN component party the Dayak-based Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) is also to be determined by the powerful ROS.

Its decision will be based on the reply by the two feuding factions' to its queries on certain matters related to the party's triennial delegates conference held in July.

PBDS leaders from both side of the fence have, however, expressed optimism, believing that they had complied with all rules and procedures on the party elections, and that they had given a comprehensive reply to the ROS' show-cause letter.

PBDS has six MPs, including Leo Moggie, the former president and the minister of energy, communications and multimedia, who has said he will not be seeking re-election. The party under Daniel Tajem, the president, want him to continue, however.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), which is led by Taib, may drop at least one candidate, but party members have been asked not to speculate.

According to seasoned observers, there may be some surprises in the BN parliamentary line-up. The possibility of some younger leaders being offered parliamentary seats is not discounted.

In spite of some internal bickering within certain component members, the Sarawak BN is not facing any imminent threat from any quarters. The opposition is only hoping to punch a hole or two here and there, according to most observers.