Balingian by-election: Straight fight between BN and Pakatan for state seat

(The Star) – The Balingian by-election will see a straight fight between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

Yussibnosh Balo (Barisan-PBB), 47, filed his nomination papers around 9am Monday, followed by Abdul Jalil Bujang (Pakatan-PKR), 55, at 9.12am.

Yussibnosh was proposed by Ardyman Matan @ Henry and seconded by Fauziah Adeni, while Jalil’s proposer and seconder were Matek Geram @ Maxi and Basri Bahari respectively.

Despite reports in local dailies, no Independents turned up to contest in the by-election, which will have a 12-day campaigning period, with polling on March 29.

The state seat is one of two – the other being Dalat – under the Mukah parliamentary constituency.

According to the Election Commission, there are 13,366 registered voters in Balingian, a semi-rural area along Sarawak’s central coastline.

Hundreds of supporters from Barisan and Pakatan had marched to the Civic Centre here, arriving about 10mins before nomination opened at 9am.

From Barisan, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem were present along with state and federal ministers.

From Pakatan, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and state party chiefs came to the centre.