The Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership is most likely to pick Nelson Balang to contest in the upcoming Ba'Kelalan by-election.

Sources said BN may choose to disregard those suggested by the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

SPDP proposed a Lun Bawang dentist Dr Bob Baru and three other names as alternatives.

But influential sections in the state BN leadership prefer Balang, the former private secretary to the late Dr Judson Tagal, the Ba'Kelalan incumbent who perished in a recent helicopter crash.

A senior Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) has already asked Balang to go down to the ground in Lawas and Be'kalalan to get ready, the sources told malaysiakini .

Balang is also from the Lun Bawang community, which is the largest ethnic group among the 7,700-strong electorate.

Other names

Medical practitioner Dr Ronald Dom Mattu, who is also SPDP Ba'Kelalan division deputy head, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.

However, observers have ruled him out as he is from a different ethic group, Kelabit.

Another name being tossed about is former member of Parliament Mutang Tagal. Although a Lun Bawang, he is from PBB and the Ba'Kelalan seat belongs to SPDP.

Meanwhile, sources said Balang is known to have a close working relationship with the state BN leaders in Lawas and Limbang.

Attempts to reach him for comments proved futile.

Nomination for the seat will be on Sept 9 in Lawas and the by-election is scheduled for Sept 18.

Although the Sarawak National Party (Snap) has announced its intention to contest, its chances of winning are said to be slim as a majority of the electorate support BN.

"There will be a token fight if the locals are not happy with the eventual choice of the BN candidate," noted the observers.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.