An unsolicited mention of a date during a briefing Sarawak BN chief Adenan Satem held for reporters today may point to April 25 as the nomination day for the coming state election.

At a press call at his office today, Adenan, who is the chief minister, briefly mentioned the date when briefing reporters on when the final batch of BN direct candidates would be announced.

Asked if the list of candidates would be finalised before the end of this week, Adenan replied, "It will be finalised before nomination day."

Asked if nomination day would be on a Monday, Adenan replied, "Yes. And I've got to give them (BN direct candidates) time to prepare their papers. I cannot choose them on 25th, on nomination day. Kelam kabut lah . Cannot. We must at least give them a few days before nomination day."

When pressed by the reporters whether April 25 would be the nomination day, Adenan said he was talking about preparations a few days before that.

"If you want to know about nomination day, you ask the Election Commission. I don't know. They are not obliged to tell me. They are obliged to tell the public," Adenan replied.

The EC will hold a special meeting tomorrow, at which it is expected to announce the dates for the Sarawak election nomination and polling days.

BN chief and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has denied that EC is colluding with the ruling government on this.

Five BN direct candidates named

In January, after an informal meeting with EC officers, Adenan had also said he did not dictate the date for the state election to the EC.

Today's announcement includes five more BN candidates, including four direct candidates from the United People's Party (UPP), who are to resign from the party before contesting under the BN ticket.

They are UPP president Dr Wong Soon Koh, who will defend his seat in Bawang Assan, Ranum Mina who will defend his seat in Opar, Tiong Thai King (Dudong) and Hii King Chion (Pujut).

Pau Chiong Ung was announced for Tanjung Batu. Adenan confirmed that Pau would be resigning from SPDP to contest under the SUPP ticket.

The direct candidates for Meradong and Pelawan state seats remain to be announced.