BY NURA V LORNA & ALEXANDRA LORNA
SIMANGGANG: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate for the Batang Lupar parliamentary constituency, 37-year-old Mohamad Shafizan Kepli will face off in a three-cornered fight in the 15th General Election (15GE).
The youngest candidate fielded by GPS in GE15 will battle against PN’ Hamdan Sani, 35 and PH’s Wel@Maxwell Rojis, 70.
Election Commission (EC) returning officer (RO) Shariff Bujang confirmed this at the constituency’s nomination centre at Sri Aman District Office here today (Nov 5).
Sharizan was made candidate for GPS, replacing Batang Lupar incumbent Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim who has served as Batang Lupar MP from 2004 to 2022.
He was the first candidate to arrive at the nomination centre at 8.20, accompanied by proposer Ariffin Akif and seconder Awg Nazit Awg Sohor.
Hamdan arrived at 8.27am with his seconder Noriszawati Suhaili and proposer Ayu Narawi, while soon after, Maxwell of AMANAH arrived at 8.50am accompanied by proposer Beji @ Nyaring Jaban and seconder Christopher Keli Lampin.
Also present to show support were Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Permanent Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Batang Lupar incumbent Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, Sebuyau assemblyman Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Beting Maro assemblyman Datuk Razaili Gapor and Lingga assemblyman Dayang Noraazah Awg Sohor.
As for the Betong parliamentary seat, it will also see a three-cornered fight in GE15.
The returning officer, Betong District officer Alfred Geling Ason said the EC has received three nomination forms from Independent candidate Hasbie Satar at 9.04am, Richard Rapu @ Aman Begri (GPS) at 9.07am and Patrick Kamis (Pakatan Harapan) at 9.11am.
“After checking on their documents, there are no candidates being withdrawn,” he said during the announcement of candidates at the nomination centre in Betong District office today.
Richard who arrived at the centre on 8.29am was accompanied by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Layar assemblyman Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu and Saribas assemblyman Mohd Razi Sitam.
Richard, who is also the political secretary to the Premier, will be contesting for the first time, replacing the incumbent Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat as GPS candidate in this GE.
Meanwhile, Roy Gingkoi (GPS), Johnical Rayong (PSB), Jugah Muyang (PN) and Langga Lian (PH) will battle in the election for the Lubok Antu parliamentary seat.
Election Commission returning officer Richard Ngumbang announced the candidates at the nomination centre in Lubok Antu Sports Complex today.
Jugah won in GE14 as an Independent candidate and joined PKR. In June 2020, he resigned from PKR and became an Independent candidate again in support of the PN and GPS government.
