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| Awang Tengah being hoisted by supporters after winning uncontested in Bukit Sari. |
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak personally congratulated him over the phone shortly after returning officer Hussaini Hakim announced that there was no contender against Awang Tengah when nominations closed.
Hussaini made the announcement at 10.20am to the shouts and cheers of BN supporters at the nomination centre.
“I am touched and grateful to win uncontested for the second time, and pledge to work hard to repay this mandate,” he said.
He submitted his nomination papers at 9.02am. His nomination was proposed by Ali Akbar Din and seconded by Semie Nasip.
He could not hold back his tears in his acceptance speech, saying it was a show of support from Bukit Sari constituents for Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and Prime Minister Najib.
“This is proof that people of Bukit Sari fully support our chief minister’s appeal for a strong mandate for Sarawak to have a strong voice in fighting for her rights and interests,” he told the crowd of over 7,000 who accompanied him to the nomination centre.
Awang Tengah also said the victory reflected the constituents’ gratitude to Najib for giving attention to Sarawak through his over 50 visits to the state, including Lawas.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman and Mara chairman Tan Sri Anuar Musa, who accompanied Awang Tengah to the nomination centre, concurred with his views.
Musa led a group of 40 Sabah BN elected representatives, including Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Husin.
He described the ‘no-contest’ as the constituents’ gratitude for Awang Tengah’s contribution to the constituency and a strong support for Adenan and Najib.
Awang Tengah arrived at the nomination centre at 8.20am before entering 10 minutes later to wait for nomination to open at 9am.
An aspiring independent candidate nicknamed Budin did not officially submit his nomination papers despite entering the nomination centre at 9.12am and talking to the returning officer.
Sources said he was hamstrung by technical requirements as he failed to submit his returns for the previous election.
PKR failed to field any candidate this time around.
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