S'WAK POLLS Wearing the familiar BN-blue shirt, the 61-year-old Marudi candidate Penguang Manggil makes his appearance at a longhouse in Bakong.
About 1,000 people crammed into the longhouse’s common area to see him and the Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Alexander Nanta Linggi, who is campaigning for him.
The people cheered at their speeches, and those of the local community leaders who spoke before them. Despite the strong show of support, there is a look of seriousness in Penguang’s face.
Penguang is one of 229 candidates vying for a seat in Sarawak’s state legislative assembly.
Unlike many of those candidates, however, Penguang is also facing an opponent that won’t even be appearing on the ballot papers.
“It should have been plain sailing,” he said during an interview later, “if not for the interference of Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) members.”