Former Lubok Antu MP Jawah Gerang is PKR man for Batang Ai

(The Malaysian Insider) – PKR has named former 5-term Lubok Antu MP Jawah Gerang for Batang Ai contest.

He will face Malcolm Mussen from Barisan Nasional’s PRS.

The outspoken Dayak politician Jawah Gerang was first elected to the Lubok Antu seat in a by-election in early 1990.

He was returned unopposed in the general election the same year, and again in the 1995 elections.

In 1999, he beat David Jemut of Parti Keadilan Nasional.

A Universiti Malaya economics graduate and former supreme council member of the de-registered Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), he was forced to relinquish the seat in the 2008 general elections as it was given to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), which he did not want to join as he was at odds with its president Datuk Seri Dr James Masing.

Nomination day is March 29 and the by election is scheduled for April 7, together with the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat and Bukit Selambau state by elections.