SIBU: When Nangka assemblyman Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee offered to run for the Sibu parliamentary seat, it caused a stir among many parties.
Is he actually joking or is he sending a sharp message to the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), to do something to ensure the seat is back in the grip of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)?
But the reality is, Dr Annuar actually has the right and a clear and reasonable reason when he expressed his thoughts.
Because the Sibu parliamentary seat encompasses his Nangka constituency as well as Bawang Assan and Pelawan.
In the last 12th State Election, Dr Annuar garnered 12,059 votes to emerge the winner in Nangka, with a majority of 10,804 votes. In Pelawan, Michael Tiang from SUPP managed to wrest the seat from David Wong from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), when he secured a majority of 99 votes.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (Parti Sarawak Bersatu) maintained his dominance in Bawang Assan when he obtained 5,952 votes, defeating Robert Lau from SUPP (GPS) who won 5,039 votes.
Based on these outcomes, it would appear to be very appropriate for Dr Annuar to challenge SUPP to give up its traditional seat. Could it be that by handing it over to the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the seat can be reclaimed?
The incumbent is Oscar Ling of DAP, who just celebrated his 45th birthday on October 9.
In 2018, he defended the seat by recording 33,811 votes, defeating the Barisan Nasional candidate, Wong Kee Yew (22,389 votes), Tiew Yen Hung – PEACE who managed 377 votes and Tiong Ing Tung (STAR) who only brought home 176 votes.
It was Oscar’s second win, after winning it in 2013, when he was 36 years by defeating SUPP veteran Vincent Lau with a majority of 2,841 votes.
Oscar was elected to replace the incumbent of the seat, Wong Ho Leng (DAP), who was “unwell”, having previously seized the seat from the BN candidate (Robert Lau, Jr), in the 2010 by-election, following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew (BN).
The late Robert Lau was a Member of Parliament for Sibu since 1990.
A total of 105,470 voters are eligible to vote this time and it is not a done deal for Oscar, who will have to work hard if he wants to keep his seat.
He must be aware that he is now in an area where all the state seats do not belong to DAP, and this brings a lot of challenges.
And should there be more candidates, votes will be split, and this will give GPS an edge.
As of yesterday, among those who have expressed their intention to mount a challenge for this seat is Soon Koh.
While on SUPP’s side, there are three names that are currently undergoing final screening.
Among the names mentioned include Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman, Clarence Ting, who is also the Chairman of SUPP Pelawan.
Other names are Tony Hii (SUPP Bawang Assan) and Daniel Sng (SUPP Nangka).
Based on the list of registered voters in 2018, this seat has 63 per cent Chinese voters, 25 per cent non-Muslim Bumiputera voters and 12 per cent Muslim Bumiputera voters.
Like other constituencies, this seat also has a large number of new and young voters, especially those aged 18 to 21.
Therefore, GPS needs to take this into account. Oscar is 45 and ideally the candidate picked to challenge him is in the same age range, much like what GPS did when it named Michael Tiang for Pelawan, which ultimately brought victory to the party.
If GPS dares to step out of the box, Dr Annuar may just pull it off in Sibu.
