IT is still anybody’s guess as to who will be Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) pick for the Tellian seat in next month’s state election.
But the coalition is spoilt for choice as several names have been bandied about ever since it emerged that incumbent two-term assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo, will not be defending his seat.
Since the beginning of the year, many names have been in circulation, among them, Paul Druce, an oil and gas business figure.
Also mentioned was Diana Rose, a former reporter for The Star, who now runs the Lamin Dana home stay and is also a Batik Linut textile entrepreneur.
Diana and Paul are currently residing in Miri and occasionally go down to Tellian.
In addition, a youth activist Royston Valentine is also a possible choice as he is active in various organisations including the Sarawak National Youth Organisation (Saberkas).
The names of two civil servants have also been floated as potential candidates, namely,former State Service Modernisation Unit director Dr Anthony Valentine Laiseh and Information officer Robin Junang.
Robin, 55, who is a communication graduate from Universiti Putra Malaysia, is the head of the state Information Department’s campaign branch.
At this juncture the only certainty appears to be the fact that Yussibnosh’s name is no longer on the radar as Tellian residents are clamouring for a change.
Yussibnosh, had in his first term in 2014, served in the Balingian state constituency to replace Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
At the time, he won the by-election with a majority of 6,911 votes, putting Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate Abdul Jalil Bujang in the shade.
Following the demarcation of the constituency in 2016, Yussibnosh was transferred to the Tellian state constituency where at that time, he faced PKR representative Asini@Hasni Yahya.
Of the 5,858 voters who went to the polls, 5,087 or 88.42 per cent picked him and the Barisan Nasional (BN).
