The editor and reporter of a Malay daily in Sarawak were sacked without notice on Thursday after the owners were angered by a news analysis speculating on Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's possible move to contest in Balingian from his present constituency of Asajaya in the forthcoming state elections.

Mohd Noor Che Mat, from Kedah, who was editor of Utusan Sarawak , confirmed today that he was asked to leave with a two months' severance pay after the report entitled Kepada siapa kerusi Balingian diserahkan? (To whom will the Balingian seat be handed to?) by reporter Fabian Laberi, a Melanau from Mukah appeared last week. Fabian was also given the sack.

The news analysis suggests that Taib enjoys an unassailable position in Asajaya constituency which he has been representing since 1981 when he was appointed Chief Minister to succeed his uncle and later political arch enemy Abdul Rahman Yakub.

It says the probability of Taib's moving to Balingian is slim, and goes on to mention several other names likely to be nominated to stand on the BN ticket to succeed the present incumbent Abdul Ajis Majeed who has cited health reasons for not wanting to seek re-election.

According to informed sources, Parti Pesaka Bumiputra(PBB) in fact wants Abdul Ajis, who has been the assemblymen for the area since 1987, to step aside in favour of a new man.

Abdul Ajis of the PBB, the backbone of the Sarawak Barisan Nasional, has had his majorities progressively reduced since he was first elected in 1987.

Declining popularity

Party leaders have apparently read this as a sign of his declining popularity or lack of interest in servicing his constituency, and in view of the concerted effort by new opposition groups, feel it is time for a new man to stand.

During his recent visit to Mukah, the local PBB branch submitted a petition calling on Taib, who is PBB president, to be the candidate for Balingian, meaning that Taib has to give up his Asajaya seat.

The Utusan Sarawak report, discounting rumours of any seat change, says such a move will have serious political implications as former PBB deputy president and former defence minister Abang Abu Bakar is preparing to take on Taib in Asajaya.

"Going to Balingian will be misconstrued as admitting Taib is losing support in Asajaya which is not the case," said one political observer.

News of the dismissals of the Utasan Sarawak editor and reporter took the media fraternity by surprise. Ordinarily, if the newspaper owners are unhappy with any report, they would either give a rebuke or reprimand.

Mohd Noor told malaysiakini that the straw that probably broke the camel's back was another shorter version of the report by the same reporter appearing in the newspaper on Thursday. He wasn't aware of the report being published.

According to him, the management told him about their displeasure with the report and asked him to leave with two months' pay.

Utusan Sarawak , with a circulation of about 35,000, is owned by a group that is closely linked to Taib. The group also owns an English-language daily, the Sarawak Tribune .