Yussibnosh Balo took his oath as the Balingian assemblyperson before state legislative speaker Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar at the State Legislative Assembly Complex in Kuching today.     

The ceremony was witnessed by Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem.  

Also present were Adenan’s wife Jamilah Anu, Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, state secretary Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani, several cabinet ministers, assistant ministers and elected Barisan Nasional (BN) representatives.   

A former district officer, Yussibnosh, 48, garnered 8,194 votes in the Balingian by-election on March 29, giving him a majority of 6,911, compared to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate Abdul Jalil Bujang who obtained 1,283 votes.  

The state constituency’s by-election was held after the resignation of its incumbent Abdul Taib Mahmud, who was later appointed as Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri on March 1.

In 2011, Taib retained the Balingian seat in a three-cornered fight, defeating PKR’s Suriati Abdullah and Salleh Jafaruddin (Independent) by a 5,154 majority.

- Bernama