[UPDATED] Sarawak election: Abang Johari confirms four incumbents will be retained

KUCHING: Four incumbent Sarawak assemblymen will be defending their respective seats in the 13th Sarawak state election.

The announcement was made by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg during a flag-off ceremony for a motorcycle convoy organised by the youth wing of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) at Kampung Matang Batu 10 here today.

In a light-hearted remark, he said the four assemblymen would continue to be addressed as Yang Berhormat (YB), effectively confirming that they would be retained as candidates to defend their respective seats.

"So, there is no need for me to joke around too much today. But looking at the faces of these four, I can see that they will remain Yang Berhormat," he said.

Also present at the event, which saw Abang Johari flag off a convoy of 100 motorcycles, were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni and Batang Lupar member of parliament Mohamad Shafizan Kepli.

The four incumbents present at the event were Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman (Tupong), Datuk Ibrahim Baki (Satok), Datuk Hamzah Brahim (Stakan) and Datuk Martin Ben (Kedup).

Fazzrudin, who first became the Tupong assemblyman in 2016, will defend the seat for a third term after winning it in the 11th and 12th Sarawak elections.

In the 12th state polls, he secured 12,544 votes with a majority of 11,209, defeating PKR's Ahmad Nazib Johari, who polled 1,335 votes, and PBK's Chan Haong Yen, who received 836 votes.

Ibrahim, meanwhile, was first elected as the Satok assemblyman in the 12th state election, replacing Abang Johari, who previously held the seat before moving to contest in Gedong.

In that election, Ibrahim secured 6,991 votes with a majority of 6,033, defeating PKR's Nor Irwan Ahmat Nor and PBK's Awang Badele Awang Ali.

Hamzah, who entered the State Legislative Assembly for the first time after winning Stakan in the 12th state election, secured 7,854 votes with a majority of 5,807.

He defeated PSB's George Young Si Ricord Junior, who received 2,047 votes, DAP's Leslie Ting Xiang Zhi with 524 votes, and PBK's Atet anak Dego, who polled 415 votes.

Martin was first elected as the Kedup assemblyman in the 10th state election in 2011. He has defended the seat in three consecutive elections, including the 12th state election, when he secured 5,178 votes with a majority of 3,566.

In the 12th state election, Martin defeated PSB's Dominic Dado Sagin, who received 1,612 votes, PBK's Stephen Sungan with 745 votes, and DAP's Learry Jabul, who polled 640 votes.