Four of 62 Barisan Nasional candidates were returned unopposed compared with 19 in the previous polls in 1996, when nominations for Sarawak's eighth state election closed today.

This leaves 58 seats in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly up for grabs next Thursday.

Of the four uncontested seats, two were Iban constituencies, one Orang Ulu and one Chinese-majority.

The BN candidates returned unopposed were Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu's (PBB) Ambrose Blikau anak Enturan (Katibas), Sarawak United People's Party's (SUPP) Alfred Yap Chin Loi (Batu Kawa, near Kuching), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak's Dublin Unting (Batang Ai), and Sarawak National Party's Dr Jakson Sakai Tagal (Ba'kelalan).

Apart from BN, which is seeking to renew its mandate for a five-year term to govern Malaysia's largest state on the island of Borneo, the other parties in the contest are newcomer Keadilan, DAP, PAS, Sarawak Reform Party (Star) and a pro-Umno group of Independents led by former PBB deputy leader Abang Abu Bakar Mustapha.

Taib challenged in Balingian

Caretaker chief minister and the Sarawak BN chief Abdul Taib Mahmud, who had earlier been expected by his supporters to be returned unopposed, is being challenged by three Independents, including one aligned to the Abang Abu Bakar group, in his new constituency of Balingian.

He is, however, expected to win easily in this predominantly Melanau constituency in the Lower Rejang Basin.

Taib, whose previous constituency was Asajaya, told reporters that the electorate in Balingian was disappointed that he was not returned unopposed.

This state election also sees all SUPP Malay/Melanau/Muslim seats being contested, and in many areas involving at least three-cornered fights, confirming earlier reports that the BN, especially the PBB's Malay wing, would be challenged in every constituency.

All eyes this time will be on the 22 Malay/Melanau/Muslim constituencies where several parties are battling for Malay votes, and where the opposition is going all out to break into the PBB strongholds, especially Kuching and other urban areas.