Adenan's widow announced as BN candidate for Tanjung Datu

PETALING JAYA: The widow of the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem has been announced as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Tanjong Datu by-election.
Sarawak Chief Minister and state BN chairman Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the candidacy of Puan Sri Jamilah Anu, 62, at the PBB headquarters today.
Abang Johari said Jamilah was the most suitable choice as she had been by Adenan's side throughout his years as an assemblyman, first in Muara Tuang and then in Tanjong Datu.
He said he had spoken to her about standing as the BN candidate and she said she was willing to take up the mantle.
He added that BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had also agreed to Jamilah's candidacy.
Abang Johari pointed out that Jamilah had been very active in the constituency and she had gone all over the place to help Adenan.
He added that she was well known in the constituency and was seen as a grassroots leader.
This is not the first time BN has fielded an incumbent's widow as a candidate.
Last year, Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid contested and won the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat, after her husband Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, who was the chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, died in a helicopter crash while campaigning in the Sarawak state election.
The Tanjong Datu state seat fell vacant when Adenan died from heart complications on Jan 11 at the Sarawak General Hospital Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan.
Adenan won the seat with a 5,892 vote majority after defeating PKR candidate Jazolkipli Numan who only garnered 468 votes against Adenan's 6,360.
Adenan had occupied the Tanjung Datu seat for more than nine years, he first won the seat in the ninth Sarawak state election in May 2006, he was previously the assemblyman for the Muara Tuang constituency, a seat he had retained since 1979.
Nomination for the by-election is on Saturday while polling has been fixed on Feb 18.