S'WAK POLLS A record number of nomination forms were snapped up for four Chinese-majority constituencies, as noted by the Election Commission (EC) yesterday, for the 11th Sarawak state election.

EC state director Takun Sunggah told Bernama that 20 sets of forms were respectively taken for Bukit Assek, Dudong, Bawang Assan in Sibu and Pujut in Miri.

The current indication is that BN and DAP would be involved in a straight fight for the seats.

BN will field direct candidates in three of the constituencies including Bawang Assan incumbent Wong Soon Koh who won the seat for SUPP.

Wong, who left SUPP in 2014 to join Teras before setting up UPP, resigned as president of the latter to contest as a direct candidate for BN this time around.

Ex-SUPP member Tiong Thai King who was also a former Lanang member of parliament, and businessman Hii King Chiong would represent BN in Dudong and Pujut respectively.

BN's representative for the Bukit Assek seat is Bukit Assek SUPP chairperson Chieng Buong Toon.

Meanwhile, DAP has revealed that it would field three new faces - lawyer Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling (Bukit Assek), Chiew Sung Ngie (Bawang Assan), and Dr Ting Tiong Choon (Pujut), while incumbent Yap Hoi Liong would defend Dudong.

In the state election in 2011, DAP won three of the seats through (now deceased) Wong Ho Leng (Bukit Assek), Yap Hoi Liong (Dudong), and Fong Pau Teck (Pujut).

Takun said nomination forms costing RM20 a set were also being snapped up for some of the 11 new seats. EC recorded 13 sets each for Batu Kitang and Serembu.

Eleven sets were taken for Bukit Semuja, 10 sets in Gedung, eight sets each in Samalaju, Murum and Bukit Goram, and seven sets in Mulu.

Takun said potential candidates must be able to pay the RM5,000 deposit and RM3,000 for election campaign material before or on nomination day on Monday.

- Bernama