Adenan confident Sarawak BN will win 60-70 seats in upcoming state election
(Bernama) – Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem is confident the Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) will win at least 60 to 70 seats during the coming state election.
The state BN chairman said with the current line-up in his “Team Adenan”, the state government would continue to remain at the helm for another term.
“After a tour of Sarawak, (through the ‘One Heart, One Tune’ programme), there is hope for BN. Maybe not all 82 seats but at least, we can win 60 to 70 seats.
“As long as we are united,” he told a packed crowd at the launch of the ‘One Heart, One Tune’ programme organised by the state government and its agencies here today.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Sarawak Housing and Tourism Minister, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah; Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim and Sarawak State Secretary, Tan Sri Mohamad Morshidi Ghani.
In the 2011 state election, BN took 55 of the 71 seats while the rest were won by DAP (12 seats), PKR (three), and Independent (one).
In the coming 11th Sarawak State Election, 11 new seats will be up for grabs following the electoral boundary redelineation last year, bringing the number of seats at stake to 82.
Adenan had earlier announced that the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly would be dissolved on April 11.
At today’s event, Adenan also announced United People Party (UPP) vice-president and UPP Youth chief, Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa as BN direct candidate for the Engkilili seat in the coming state election.He further confirmed that the incumbent for DUN Lingga (Simoi Peri), Balai Ringin (Snowdan Lawan), Bukit Begunan (Datuk Mong Dagang), Simanggang (Datuk Francis Harden Hollis) and Batang Ai (Malcom Mussen Lamoh) would remain as BN candidates.
“I hope you will return them again as part of my team, ‘Adenan’s Team’,” he said.
Met by the media later, Johnical who is defending the Engkilili seat for the third term called on everyone to respect the official announcement by the chief minister that he was the BN candidate.
“I hope everyone will work with me to ensure a landslide victory for BN, especially when the chief minister wants a strong five-year mandate,” he said.
The “One Heart, One Tune” programme was first launched in Miri from January 8 to 10, this year. It is aimed at forging closer relations between the government and the people through the concept of “turun padang” or going to the ground.
Various events were drawn up during the programme, including development seminars, talks (ceramah), traditional sport competitions, cooking demonstrations and performances by popular artistes.
