KUCHING: Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine is confident the Mukah incumbent MP Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib will be re-nominated to contest in the 15th general election (GE15).

He said that Hanifah is one of the women leaders from Sarawak who is versatile as she is capable of carrying out her responsibilities at the federal level and administer the Mukah parliamentary constituency well.

“I see the opportunity for our Premier to re-nominate Hanifah, our former MP who was initially nominated and won in the last election.

“I also fully support her because from the beginning, we have seen the various initiatives she initiated in our area,” he told this reporter today.

He added that the tremendous impact in any kind of activities carried out by Hanifah in the Tellian area could clearly be seen.

“In fact, she has already been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs that is an advantage for us, she is indeed a great figure.

“She is also a woman leader who is respected and successful in various matters,” he added.

In fact, he said there was a big chance for Hanifah to be re-nominated as recently the Premier of Sarawak informed that the candidates who had only served one term would be re-nominated.

According to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) would allow them to serve at least two terms as elected representatives.

In the last 14th general election, Hanifah successfully defeated her opponent from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Abdul Jalil Bujang with a majority of 66 per cent of the votes in her favour.