More supporters of Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud have called for Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) to nominate his son Sulaiman as a candidate for the upcoming state elections.

The latest call came from a group of 150 people from nine villages in Lundu administrative district under the newly-created Tanjung Datu state constituency.

They said in a petition to PBB headquarters yesterday that, with his background as a banker and his corporate influence, Sulaiman would be the best elected representative for Tanjung Datu.

Sulaiman, 38, ( photo, right ) could not be immediately reached for comment, but a party leader who spoke to him said he and his mother Laila are "amenable to the idea of him contesting, although his father ( photo, left ) is said to have some reservations".

The latest development is interesting in that PBB senior vice-president Adenan Satem's name has been linked to a possible move from Muara Tuang to Tanjung Datu.

Three months ago, a majority of PBB Muara Tuang division committee members wrote to Taib, asking that his son Sulaiman replaces Adenan following reports that the latter would be moving to Tanjung Datu.

PBB supporters in another newly-created state constituency, Lingga, also want Sulaiman to contest as their candidate.

Critics, however, said the moves are being orchestrated so that Taib's son - who heads RHB Banking Group and the family-controlled public-listed CMS Bhd, will follow his father's footsteps in politics.

Uncertainty for Adenan

Adenan, who was widely thought until recently as likely to take over as chief minister if Taib steps down, is said to be uncertain as to whether he will be re-nominated.

Now 65, he was first elected a state assemblyperson in 1978 in a by-election followingthe death of Mohd Musa, a Parti Bumiputera leader, and has served six terms. He is also Batang Sadong MP and chairperson of Sarawak Foundation.

Taib's family sources have brushed aside the suggestion that Ali - businessman and a brother of Taib - will contest in Muara Tuang. That role may be filled by Sulaiman if Taib gives the green light.

Taib has a long affinity with Muara Tuang as he was the adjoining Sebandi (later renamed Asajaya) state assemblyperson from 1981-2001.

He moved to Balingian in 2001 after then federal defence minister Abang Abu Bakar announced he would be standing against him in Asajaya. The seat is now held by PBB Youth deputy leader Abdul Karim Hamzah.

Taib has been MP for Kota Samarahan since direct elections in 1970.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.