In announcing the last batch of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates yesterday, caretaker Chief Minister Adenan Satem dropped former Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supplies) Sylvester Entri Muran and former Assistant Minister of Community Services Peter Nansian Ngusie, who was also Assistant Minister of Industrial Estate Development.

Both Nansian and Entri are from Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras). They were replaced by SPDP candidates Henry Harry Jinep in Tasik Biru and Dr Penguang Manggil in Marudi, respectively.

Those who did not seek re-election are former Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu in Layar and three former assistant ministers Daud Abdul Rahman (Tupong), Gramong Juna (Machan) and Robert Lawson Chuat (Bukit Saban).

Jabu will be replaced by his son, Gerald Rentap Jabu, in Layar.

PBB has picked Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman for Tupong, Gramong’s son Alan for Machan and Federal Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Douglas Uggah Embas for Bukit Saban.

Meanwhile, former Sarikei MP Ding Kuong Hiing from SUPP is the BN’s pick for Meradong, which was won by the DAP’s Ting Tze Fui in the last state polls in 2011.

With the final announcement of BN candidates, PBB will stand in 40 constituencies, SUPP in 13, PRS in 11 and the SPDP in five. There will be 13 direct BN candidates.

Of the 13 direct BN candidates, seven are from UPP, three from Teras and three are former PBB members: Miro Simuh (who will contest in Serembu), John Ilus (Bukit Semuja) and Gerawat Gala (Mulu). All the direct BN candidates from UPP and Teras have resigned from their respective parties.

Meanwhile, a check with the Election Commission (EC) headquarters here yesterday revealed that many individuals had bought the nomination forms.

State EC director Takun Sunggah said it was too early to state the actual number of potential candidates gunning for the 82 seats as the nomination forms would remain available for sale at RM20 per set until April 25, which is nomination day.