KUCHING: The Gedong seat was won by Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg with a handsome majority of 3,607 votes.

       The caretaker chief minister secured 4,310 votes in a four-cornered fight against Mohamad Sofian Fariz Sharbini of Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) with 703 votes, Kamal Bujang of Parti Amanah Negara (94 votes) and Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Tomson Ango (157 votes).

       Both Kamal and Tomson lost their deposits. The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman had served nine terms in the Satok seat and this was his first contest in Gedong.

       The official results were announced by the Election Commission.

       The Gedong seat, which has a total of 7,208 voters comprising 3,508 men and 3,700 women, comes under the Batang Sadong parliamentary constituency and is about 90 minutes from the state capital.

       About 60% of voters in the constituency are Malays, 30% Iban and 10% comprising other races.

       Gedong was one of 11 new state seats created in a re-delineation exercise in 2015

       Meanwhile GPS candidate Azizul Annuar Adenan is set to follow in his parents’ footsteps as the elected representative for Tanjung Datu.

       Azizul, a newbie in the 12th Sarawak election, won the state assembly seat with a majority of 4,502 votes after polling 5,423 votes.

       His contenders trailed with Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s Jery’in Fauzi getting 921 votes, Independent Cikgu Talip (261 votes) and Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Goem Pijar (226 votes).

       Azizul’s late father Tan Sri Adenan Satem was the former chief minister and Tanjung Datu assemblyman.Upon his death in 2017, Azizul’s mother, Puan Sri Jamillah Anu, won the seat in the by-election.

       Meanwhile, GPS retained the Mambong seat with Jerip Susil polling 5,865 votes.

       He won with a majority of 3,071 against Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s Sanjan Daik (2,794), while DAP’s Chang Hon Hiung polled 1,517 votes.

       At press time, the first of 45 women candidates from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) – Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah – won the Dalat seat with a majority of 7,085 votes.

       She was in a straight fight with Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Salleh Mahali, who only garnered 460 votes.

       GPS’ Datuk Idris Buang won with a majority of 6,237 votes in Muara Tuang.

       Idris managed to garner 8,435 votes in a six-cornered fight against Independent Ismawi Muhammad (2,198), Parti Sarawak Bersatu candidate Yakup Khalid (1,838), and Parti Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (Sedar) candidate Hipni Sulaiman, who garnered 357 votes.

       Amanah’s Daud Eali merely garnered 239 votes, while Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Sigandam Sulaiman received 190 votes.

       Meanwhile Opposition party Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) has picked up two seats.

       Johnichal Rayong Ngipa retained the Engkilili seat with a 1,191 majority. His closest opponent was GPS’ Desmond Sateng Sanjan, who polled 2,055 votes.

       PSB Ba’Kelalan incumbent Baru Bian also retained his seat.