S'WAK POLLS Pakatan Harapan got off on a rocky start for the 11th Sarawak election, with overlaps in nominations for six seats.

At the end of the nomination period today, returning officers across Sarawak announced that PKR and DAP will be battling each other in the six constituencies.

The seats are Batu Kitang, Mulu, Murum, Simanggang, Ngemah and Mambong.

DAP decided to contest the Batu Kitang seat, despite it earlier agreeing to allocate the seat to PKR, in retaliation for PKR reneging on the agreement.

The other five seats were earlier allocated to DAP.

"They (the state leadership) gave me the watikah (authorisation letter), and said 'You go', and I went.

"Because they said I deserve it," PKR's candidate for Mulu, Paul Baya ( centre in photo ), told reporters in Marudi this afternoon.

In Batu Kitang, DAP's Abdul Aziz Isa stayed in his vehicle parked near the nomination centre until he received word that PKR nominated a candidate for Mambong. He then submitted his nomination form for Batu Kitang.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali confirmed that he authorised Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian to issue the authorisation letters to the five candidates.

"I was given the mandate in writing by the president to resolve all outstanding issues concerning the state election, including seats allocation and candidates," Azmin said at a function in Shah Alam today.

"I was given the mandate by the party. Can you question it? You should not question it," he said.

He did not say when the mandate was given or whether PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail specifically gave the greenlight to clash with DAP.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the party feels "shortchanged".

"It's not just one seat, it's five seats. If one seat, we understand and we can try to overlook it, but five seats. How can we overlook that?" Lim told reporters in Miri.

A total of 80 out of 82 Sarawak legislative assembly seats are up for grabs, after BN won Batu Sari and Bukit Kota uncontested.

BN named candidates for all seats. PKR is contesting 40 constituencies, DAP 31, PAS 11, Amanah 13, Star 11, and PBDS Baru five, while 35 independents candidates joined the fray.

Below is the list of seats contested by both PKR and DAP and the candidates.

Batu Kitang:

Lo Khere Chiang (BN)

Abdul Aziz Isa (DAP)

Voon Shiak Ni (PKR)

Othman Bojeng (Independent)

Sulaiman Kadir (Independent)

Mulu:

Gerawat Gala (BN)

Paul Baya (PKR)

Paul Raja (DAP)

Roland Dom (Independent)

Murum:

Chuk Tai Ugun (BN)

Mathew Silek (DAP)

Abun Sui (PKR)

Stanley Ajang Bato (Independent)

Simanggang:

Francis Harden Holis (BN)

Norina Umoi anak Utot (PKR)

Leon Jimat Donald (DAP)

Ngu Piew Seng (Independent )

Mambong:

Jerip Susil (BN)

Sanjan Daik (DAP)

Willie Mongin (PKR)

Ngemah:

Alexander Anak Vincent (BN)

Richard Anak Lias (DAP)

Thomas Laja Anak Besi (PKR)

Joseph Jawa Anak Kendawang (Independent)