MIRI: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Pujut candidate Adam Yii has become the focus on nomination day at the Miri City Hall building here on Nomination Day.

       Yii, 65, who is also the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Pujut branch chief arrived at the building at about 7.52 this morning.

       He is a first-time contestant in the Sarawak polls, and prior to this was the Miri mayor since July 1, 2019 before being announced as the GPS candidate recently.

       However, he is is not a new name in the Sarawak political scenario as he joined SUPP in 1990.

       However, a tough challenge awaits him in the Sarawak state polls this time as he has to convince 27,559 voters to switch back to GPS because in the 11th Sarawak State Election, it was won by DAP’s Dr Ting Tiong Choon with a majority of 1,759 votes.

       However, Dr Ting could not defend the state seat after being disqualified as a state assemblyman in 2019 after being found to have dual citizenship, thus violating Article 17 (1) (g) of the Sarawak State Constitution.

       Pujut is expected to witness a five-cornered contest after DAP confirmed that it would be fielding Alan Ling Sie Kiong, and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB)’s Bruce Chai Khim Cheong are also hoping to contest the seat.

       Aside from the three, two newcomers - Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak’s Eric Chin Feng Shiong and Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Leslie Ting Siong - are also believed to be joining the fray.

       The actual number of candidates who will contest for the Pujut seat will only be known at about 11 this morning after the nomination process closes and the Election Commission (EC) makes an official announcement. - Bernama