Baru Bian elected as chairman of PDP Ba'Kelalan division at its triennial general meeting

LAWAS, March 24 2026: Ba’Kelalan State Legislative Member (SLM) Baru Bian (picture) was elected as chairman of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Ba’Kelalan division as its recent triennial general meeting held here.

According to a Facebook post by PDP Ba’Kelalan service centre, the meeting, held on March 18 went smoothly and full of unity.

“This meeting showed the unity and strong commitment of PDP members to continue fighting for the development and future of the people of Ba’ Kelalan,” the post said.

The post went to congratulate Baru, who is also PDP vice president, being elected as chairman of the Ba’Kelalam division,  together with the new leadership who will continue the party’s struggle.

“With experience, commitment and support from the people, we are confident that Baru will continue to lead the voice and better development for Ba’ Kelalan,” the post said.

It added that the struggle is not just for today, but for the future of the generations of Ba’ Kelalan.

Prior to the 2021 state election, Baru won Ba’Kelalan on PKR ticket.

He left PKR in 2020 and in the 2021 state election, he stood as a Parti Bersatu Sarawak (PSB) candidate and retained his Ba’Kelalan seat.

When PSB was dissolved, Baru joined PDP  in 2024 and was made a vice president.

Before leaving PKR, he was its Sarawak chapter chairman

Joseph Blandoi to replace Paulus Gumbang in Batu Danau?

KUCHING, March 24 2026: Speculations are being viralled on social media that incumbent Paulus Gumbang may be replaced by  a state-government linked statutory authority general manager Joseph Blandoi in Batu Danau in the next state election.

Caption: Salcra general manager Joseph Blandoi is among the names being floated to contest in Batu Danau on GPS ticket in the state election 

Paulus, 75, won the Batu Danau seat in the 2011 state election on a Sarawak Democratic Progressive Party (SPDP)- Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket.

However, he and three other leaders were later sacked following an uprising against the party leadership.

The others were Rosey Yunos (Bekenu), Peter Nansian Ngusie (Tasik Biru) and Sylvester

Entri Muran (Marudi).

Under the directive of the then Chief Minister Adenan Satem, SPDP reinstated them to ensure political stability in the BN.

However, their membership in SPDP was uncertain and a result, Paulus and Rosey contested in the 2016 state election as direct candidates of the BN while Nansian and Entrie did not contest.

After the 2016, Paulus and Rosey were accepted as PBB members.

At the moment, there is no indication to say that Paulus will not defend his seat.

According to an analysis by “Sarawak First”, Batu Danau is increasingly seen as one of the seats that is most likely to undergo a reform process ahead of the upcoming state election.

In the 2016 state election, Paulus won Batu Danau with a majority of 2,939 votes, but in the 2021 state election, that majority has shrunk to just 706 votes, indicating that the voters wanted a change of their elected representative from GPS.

Among the names that have cropped up to replace Paulus as GPS candidates was Jopseh Blandoi.

Apart from being the general manager of Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra), he is also the president of Sarawak Bisaya Association and chairman of the Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA).

Blandoi has a close relationship with the state government leadership, especially Deputy Premier and PBB deputy president Douglas Uggah and Minister of Food Industries, Commodity and Regional Development and PBB senior vice president Dr Stephen Rundie.

Governor, wife express deep appreciation to visitors who attended their Hari Raya open house

KUCHING, March 23 2026: Governor Tun Wan Junaidi  Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi have expressed their deepest gratitude to the visitors who attended their Hari Raya open house on March 21 and 22 at the Astana Negeri.

Governor Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar says the attendance far exceeded the initial expectations 

In a statement, the governor said the presence of almost 27,000 visitors who came to pay their respects to convey Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri greetings to him,  his wife and family members was very touching.

“On the first day alone, we received 25,000 visitors, while almost 2,000 guests attended on the second day,” he said.

Wan Junaidi said the attendance far exceeded the initial expectations, but it reflects the strong family spirit among the people from the villages of Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Betong and Sibu districts and the people of Kuching city.

“To welcome the guests on the first day, there were 14 stalls, almost all of which were small traders from around Kuching city, who provided a variety of traditional dishes such as satay, ketupat, rendang, curry, ice kacang, kolok mee, mee jawa and of course the iconic Sarawak Lapis Kek.

“We are very grateful that they had sufficient food and drinks for everyone to enjoy,” the governor said.

He added the atmosphere of this celebration was very lively, saying that he and his wife felt very happy to see the presence of people from various ages, races and religions.

“The effect of unity cannot be valued with money,” he added.

The governor said the beauty of this diversity brightened the event when the guests arrived in their respective ethnic traditional costumes, stating that he himself  wore a tengkolok and his wife wore a baju kurung with keringkam decorations that are quite synonymous with Sarawak's cultural heritage.

He expressed his confidence that the celebration will continue to be a platform to strengthen the bond of friendship and brotherhood among Sarawakians

Alexander Nanta hinting of stepping down as Kapit MP

KAPIT, March 23 2026:  Alexander Nanta Linggi (picture) has hinted that he will be stepping down as Kapit Member of Parliament “when the time comes”. 

There is a possibility that he may not contest in the next general election.

However, in his Facebook Post, he did not provide specific reasons of his wish to step down.

Nanta, the grandson of one of the Malaysia’s founding fathers, Temenggong Jugah anak Barieng, has been the Kapit MP since 1999.

Apart from holding a senior federal position as the Works Minister, he is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general and PBB secretary -general, putting him in an influential political position.

He has served as Minister of Works in the Unity Government administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since December 2022.

He had also held ministerial positions under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He also also held posts as deputy minister when Barisan Nasional was power.

So when he hinted that his political secretary Alvin Runggah Jimbun would take over from him as the Kapit MP at the thanks giving dinner last night, many were caught by surprise and some even asked if that was for real.

“I would like to state that if the time comes for me to no longer contest as the Kapit parliamentary candidate, Alvin Runggah is the individual who will take over the responsibility.

“Therefore, he needs the full support of the entire Kapit community to ensure that the continuity of development can continue with greater excellence.” Nanta said in his closing speech, posted on his Facebook.

In this regard, he said Runggah has been given the trust to continue to play an important role in continuing the development agenda.

“He is not a new name, but has served for a long time and carried out various responsibilities including as a Special Duties Officer (PTTK II), and is even known by many including at the state administration level,” he said.

He added this was proven when Runggah from Kapit who contested in the Supreme Working Council (MKT) of the Pesaka wing of the PBB succeeded in obtaining one of the highest votes, reflecting the strength and unity that exists among the members.

“Looking ahead, hope is placed on Runggah to continue the leadership legacy that is able to unite all parties and drive the development of Kapit to a higher level,” he said.

PBK Voon: Justification for the increase in the number of SLA seats is weak and unconvincing

KUCHING, March 23 2026: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan (picture) has disagreed with the reasons given by Gabungan parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders for the increase in the number of Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA) seats from the present 82 to 99.

He said the justification of Sarawak’s vast geographical size as stated by the GPS leaders is weak and unconvincing.

“To date, no transparent study, independent report, or empirical data has been presented to prove that enlarging the legislature will improve governance, representation, or service delivery,” he said in a statement.

Voon said PBK is right to question this, saying that without evidence, this expansion looks less like a solution and more like a political exercise in patronage.

“An increase in political positions means an increase in public spending—more salaries, more allowances, more pensions, and more lifelong benefits borne by taxpayers.

“It raises a serious moral question - why should elected representatives qualify for pensions after a short stint in office—reportedly as little as around three years—while ordinary civil servants must dedicate decades of service to earn the same security?” he asked.

He claimed that this is not about strengthening democracy,  but it is about expanding the political class at public expense.

Voon, a former DAP State Legislative Member (SLM) for Batu Lintang, claimed that more lawmakers do not automatically mean better governance.

“In reality, under Malaysia’s parliamentary system, major decisions are shaped and finalized by the executive—by cabinet—not by the legislature.

“The SLA too often functions as a rubber stamp, endorsing decisions already made behind closed doors,” he said.