PKR has entered the ‘mascot war’ in the Sarawak state election by introducing its new mascot - a Borneo rhinoceros.

The image of a blue mascot was first uploaded by PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar on Instagram.

PKR strategy director Sim Tze Tzin confirmed the mascot will be launched in Kuching this Friday.

"What Nurul Izzah uploaded was the initial version of our mascot. It is a Borneo rhinoceros and it is pretty cute," Sim told Malaysiakini .

However, he declined to reveal more about the mascot.

This makes the May 7 state election the cutest poll ever in Sarawak history, with five mascots entering the battlefield, observers noted.

DAP first launched its hornbill mascot 'Ubah' and upgraded it to the 'Ubah warrior' to face the coming electoral hustings.

Ubah received an overwhelming welcome in the 2011 state election, where tens of thousands of Ubah stuffed toys were sold.

It was considered a soft approach of the political party that captured the hearts of many.

Sarawak Independence Alliance (SIA) introduced a Super Badger in a red Superman cape, as its ambassador on April 12.

The mascot was meant to raise election campaign funds for the incumbent Pujut assemblyperson and SIA’s northern Sarawak leader Fong Pau Teck.

Symbol of the White Rajahs

The badger was part of the insignia symbol of the old Kingdom of Sarawak, when the White Rajahs ruled.

Fong was sacked from DAP and has vowed to defend his seat under SIA.

It was reported the Super Badger mascots, which were sold at RM20 and RM100, were well received by the local community.

Meanwhile, pro-BN party United People's Party (UPP) also introduced its mascot, a hawk name 'Oooh Ha', earlier this month.

Instead of using the cute bird to woo the voters, it was reported that the Kota Samarahan UPP branch created the hawk to pay tribute to Chief Minister Adenan Satem ( pix ).

"The design of the ‘Oooh Ha’ hawk came from the chief minister shouting 'oooh ha'," UPP branch chief Leong Wei Ping was quoted as saying.

Describing Adenan as the number one chief minister in the country with his series of people-oriented policies, Leong said the Sarawak BN chairman has all the strength of a hawk.

Meanwhile, the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) has adopted a bee as its mascot, together with the slogan 'We Can Bee'.

The yellow-coloured bee holding on to a round shield was launched by SUPP on March 14.

SUPP president Sim Kui Hian said the bee was chosen because it represents hard work, unity and teamwork.

"Those who bully SUPP, we will sting them," Sim said.

After SUPP launched the bee as its mascot, DAP’s incumbent Pending assemblyperson Violet Yong Wui Wui uploaded a photo of a bird eating a bee to imply that the DAP hornbill mascot 'Ubah' would eat up SUPP.

Yong also shared a photo of an insecticide and a bee from the 'DAP must win in the Sarawak election' Facebook page and asked whether the bee could win in the Sarawak election, given that insecticide could kill it.

This resulted in SUPP Youth central publicity and information secretary Milton Foo ticking off DAP for its attack on SUPP, calling it “childish” in an interview with See Hua Daily News .