Election fever is catching on in Sarawak. In Kampung Salak, 60km from Kuching, some villagers have put up flags proclaiming their support for Barisan Nasional.
All incumbents from Sarawak United people's Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) would be nominated to defend their seats in the coming state election.
SPDP president Datuk Sri William Mawan Ikom said none of the party's eight incumbents had voiced their intention not to defend their seats.
"I am recommending that all the incumbents be retained.
"However, the decision on whether to retain them or not lies with the Barisan Nasional national chairman (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) and state BN chairman (Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud).
The eight SPDP incumbents are Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Wong Judat (Meluan), Datuk Peter Nyarok (Krian), Paulus Palu Ngumbang (Batu Danau), Sylvester Entrie, Nelson Balang Rining (Ba'Kelalan), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Mawan (Pakan) himself.
Mawan said all the incumbents would be re-nominated as they were winnable candidates.
"They have been working very hard to serve their constituents and should be given another term to serve the people."
PRS president Datuk Seri James Masing said that all seven incumbents would be retained.
"I have the faith in the six other incumbents to retain their seats as they are popular among the voters."
The PRS incumbents are Masing himself in Balleh, Snowdan Lawan (Balai Ringin), Mong Dagang (Bukit Begunan), Malcolm Mussen (Batang Ai), John Sikie Tayai (Kakus), Liwan Lagang (Belaga) and Joseph Mauh Ikeh (Tamin)
He said two newcomers would be nominated for the Ngemah seat, which it lost in the 2006 state election, and for the Pelagus seat currently held by Larry Sng.
Sng is no longer a member of PRS after he was sacked from the party following disagreements with Masing on Dec 2, 2006.
James said the two potential candidates for Pelagus are Kapit Walikota and former assemblyman Philemon Nuing.
In Ngemah, the two names are PRS Ngemah branch chairman Warren Aris and former candidate Alexander Vincent, who lost in the 2006 election to Gabriel Adit Demong.
SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sim Kheng Hui said the party had decided previously to retain all its 12 incumbents.
They are party president Tan Sri Dr George Chan (Piasau), Ranum Mina (Opar), Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan), Andy Chia (Pujut), Datuk Lee Kim Shin (Senadin), Datuk David Teng (Repok), Datuk Francis Harden (Simanggang), Vincent Goh (Pelawan) Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck (Dudong) and Tan Joo Phoi (Batu Kawah).
However, Dr Chan said on Sunday the incumbent for Dudong, Dr Soon, was not keen to defend his seat.
Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa, who won the Engkilili seat under the Sarawak National Party ticket in the 2006 state election, but later joined SUPP in October last year, is also re-nominated.
In the 2006 state election, SPDP won all its eight seats, PRS won eight out of the nine seats and SUPP won 12 out of 19 seats.
