By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal (Malaysian Insider)
KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 – Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will officially announce its candidate for the Sibu by-election next Tuesday.
PR defacto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that the announcement of PR’s candidate, who will be picked from DAP Sarawak, will be made next week as the PR leadership needed time to decide a proper candidate.
“PR will make the announcement next Tuesday, April 27 in Sibu,” said Anwar.
DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang remained tight-lipped when asked to reveal the number of people on the candidate shortlist.
Besides that, Anwar also confirmed today the membership of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition in Sarawak, which will consist of PKR, DAP, PAS and Snap (Sarawak National Party.)
“The leadership of Pakatan Sarawak will be done on a rotation basis,” explained Anwar.
Sibu MP Datuk Robert Lau died last week, triggering the country’s 11th by-election since Election 2008.
Lau, from Sarawak BN party SUPP, beat state DAP chief Wong Ho Leng and PKR’s Lim Chin Chuang in a three-cornered fight to win his fifth term as Sibu MP in Election 2008.
The deputy transport minister won by a majority of 3,235 votes.
He garnered 19,138 votes against Wong’s 15,903 and Lim’s 812.
The DAP controls six seats in the 71-member state legislative assembly, while PKR and Snap have one each.