From mother to daughter in politics - that could happen if the Barisan Nasional leadership agrees to a strong recommendation that PBB member Sharifah Hasida Wan Razali is named candidate for the Samariang constituency.

Kuching-based lawyer, Hasida, 39, would then take over from mother, Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi, who is also the PBB Wanita leader.

Since the election outcome for most, if not all, Malay/Melanau-majority seats is nearly always a foregone conclusion, Hasida is almost certain to be appointed at least an assistant minister.

Her mother, who is about 60, is assistant minister for welfare and women's affairs and has been the party's women's wing chief since 1987. She is closely aligned to PBB deputy presidentAbang Johari Tun Openg.

Mordiah ( left ) first stood and won as a BN-PBB candidate in Sebandi (later renamed Asajaya). When party president Taib Mahmud returned to Sarawak after a spell in Kuala Lumpur, she offered her seat to him in 1981 and was made a political secretary.

Following the Ming Court crisis in 1987, she stood on a BN-PBB ticket in Samariang, beating former party Wanita chief Hafsah Harun in a snap election called by Taib.

There has been talk that she will either step down or be replaced to make way for a younger face. Speculation has it that she could be left out of the state cabinet if a new leader takes over from Taib as chief minister.

A PBB supreme council member said: "Taib has made it known he wants every PBB elected representative to be at least a university graduate (which Mordiah is not)."

"It has been strongly recommended that Mordiah's daughter be nominated for the Samariang seat in the Kuching Malay heartland and the party president has agreed to this in principle."

Two other names likely to be put forward are Professor Dr Fatimah Bujang of UiTM and another lawyer Nancy Shukry.

Full list soon

PBB will contest at least 35 of the 71 state seats. Its candidates will take on 17 Malay, 10 Melanau and eight Dayak predominated constituencies.

The party will also contest in five of the nine newly-created seats, while Supp will stand in two and PRS and SPDP in one each.

There is talk that two PBB Malay/Melanau state assistant ministers may be dropped in favour of new faces.

The two names most frequently mentioned are that of Noroden Majais, the representative for Simunjan and a staunch supporter of Adenan Satem, as well as Hamden Ahmad who is said to have health problems.

The PBB's full list is expected to be announced immediately after the dissolution of the state legislative assembly, likely to be done next week. There is speculation too about "unexpected changes" being made.

The list is certain to attract a lot of interest both inside and outside the party, as well as in BN, as it will indicate the kind of team of ministers and assistant ministers with whom Taib would prefer to work over the next five years.

The dust has yet to settle over the Adenan issue, with many of his supporters seen to be realigning themselves - some are even gravitating towards Johari, who appears to have been sidelined until recently.

Photographs in local newspapers indicate that Johari is being seen in the company of a number of party representatives at functions, as well as with Taib.