KUCHING: Five candidates withdrew from contesting in the Sarawak election at the eleventh hour, with one of them getting cold feet at the last minute.

       Ali Seman Ibrahim, who planned to contest for the Tanjung Datu seat as an Independent candidate, arrived at the Lundu community hall at 8.45am.

       When the nomination process started 15 minutes later, he was seen still outside the hall while other candidates were busy filing their papers.

       With a few more minutes before the nomination process closed, Ali Seman decided to back out, saying he lacked confidence.

       Nevertheless, the Tanjung Datu seat will see a four-way fight between candidates from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and an Independent.

       GPS’ Azizul Annuar Adenan – the youngest son of the late chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem – is facing Independent Abdul Talip Ba’ee, PSB’s Jery’in Fauzi and PBK’s Goem Pijar.

       Meanwhile, four Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru’s (PBDS Baru) candidates also did not file their nomination papers.

       They were Pok Ungkut, who was supposed to be fielded in Balai Ringin, Ignatius Joseph Bunsuan (Batu Danau), Lingga Atok (Gedong) and Michael Empaling (Bukit Semuja).

       PBDS Baru vice-president Rapelson Richard Hamit said he was in the dark as to why they pulled out.

       “I will be contacting them to find out their reasons after they were given the authorisation letters to contest on the PBDS Baru ticket,” he said.

       PBDS Baru ended with 11 candidates in the polls.