Official: BN retains Tanjong Datu by a landslide

BN has retained the Tanjong Datu state seat, left vacant by the late Adenan Satem, Sarawak’s fifth chief minister.

Candidate Jamilah Anu won with an overwhelming majority against Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru's Rapelson Richard Hamit and State Reform Party's Johnny Aput.

Jamilah bagged 6,573 votes, or 95.3 percent of the popular vote up from 92 percent secured by Adenan in the state elections last year.

Both opposition candidates lost their deposits. Johnny and Rapelson managed to secure only 108 and 130 votes respectively.

Voter turnout was just 1 percent lower than the year before, a feat considering that this was never expected to be a keen contest.

Of the 9,959 eligible voters, 6,891 voted which translates into a 69.2 turnout rate, down from 70.1 percent the year before. The Election Commission (EC) had initially aimed for a 75 percent voter turnout.

The by-election was called following the death of Adenan due to heart complications on Jan 11 at Sarawak Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan.

Adenan, a highly popular leader, led BN to an overwhelming victory in the state election last year. Adenan was the Tanjong Datu assemblyperson since 2006.

-Mkini