PKR names Jawah to contest Batang Ai seat (Update)

(TheStar) KUCHING: PKR has named former five-term Lubok Antu Member of Parliament Jawah Gerang as its candidate for the Batang Ai by-election on April 7.

Gerang, 55, is a degree holder in economics from Universiti of Malaya. The former bank officer joined PKR recently after he was dropped by the Barisan Nasional coalition in last year’s parliamentary election.

Batang Ai is one of the two state seats in the Lubok Antu parliamentary constituency. The other is Engkilili.

Gerang will face Barisan newcomer and engineer Malcolm Mussen Lamoh in the contest.

Gerang’s candidacy was announced by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a press conference at Grand Continental Hotel here Monday.

Gerang, who was a senior leader in the now defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), was chosen over PKR state deputy chief Nicholas Bawin.

Anwar said Bawin had been appointed PKR director of operations for the by-election which was called following the death of four-term assemblyman Datuk Dublin Unting Ingkot.

Batang Ai has 8,006 registered voters, nearly 95% of whom are Iban.

Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and DAP have both made way for PKR to have a one-to-one fight with the Barisan in the contest.