The Belaga branch of Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) wants the party, the backbone of the Barisan Nasional-led state government, to contest for the new Murum state seat in the upcoming state election.

In a statement here, its chairperson Michael Mujah Lihan said this was because the majority of the voters in Belaga were PBB members.

He said the branch had more than 47,000 members, 8,054 of whom were registered voters in Murum.

"Our machinery on the ground is well-organised and has excellent networking to facilitate effective mobilisation of our resources and manpower.

“We also have excellent grassroots support as evident during our various activities which are

always well attended, especially in the Murum area," he said.

Mujah said Belaga was also synonymous with PBB since the reigns of its former assemblypersons Sri Nyipa Bato and Tajang Laing.

"The two legends still have their loyal supporters until today.

"However, with regard to the candidate we will leave it to the wisdom of our leaders to decide on the most winnable PBB candidate," he said.

The Murum seat is one of the 11 new seats created by the Election Commission to bring the total number the state seats to 81, from 71 previously.

It is carved out from the current N57 Belaga seat in the Hulu Rejang parliamentary constituency.

The Belaga seat is represented by Liwan Lagang, the state's assistant minister for culture and heritage, while the incumbent for Hulu Rejang is Wilson Ugak Kumbong.

Both are from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), a state BN component party.

- Bernama