MUKAH, March 15 ― Barisan Nasional (BN) will field former Dalat district officer Yossibnosh Balo for the Balingian by-election this March, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced today.

The local-born Christian Melanau is in his late 40s and hails from Kampung Tellian here, according to media reports.

The decision to field a Christian Melanau for the seat was reportedly part of a “gentlemen’s agreement” from 1963 that at least one elected representative in the Mukah parliamentary seat should be from the community.

“Balingian as we know is BN’s stronghold in Sarawak. There are 13,366 voters in Balingian. I am confident BN will win because the voters have seen the economic and infrastructure development in Mukah especially during incumbent and former chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s time.

“Voters also know the prospect for Balingian’s future depends on cooperation with BN so we believe they will give strong support to Yossibnosh,” he told a press conference after announcing the name to hundreds of supporters and PBB members at Dewan Suarah Mukah here.

Muhyiddin also said the support for the candidate would also reflect the support for the new chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem who was also present.

The PBB Tellian Tengah branch member said he would focus on winning the by-election, and his 21 years of experience in the civil service including Dalat district officer would be an advantage.

“It is basically the same thing I have been doing as Dalat’s district officer, except in a different capacity,” he said.

Mukah assemblywoman Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the party’s top leaders believed Yossibnosh is the best candidate for Balingian not just to fulfill the Gentleman’s Agreement but because of his experience.

“He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from Universiti Utara Malaysia and more than 20 years in the civil service. I think he is more than capable,” she said.

Balingian was vacated after its Melanau Muslim representative and recently retired Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, was appointed the state’s governor.

The former Sarawak chief minister was president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president.

Taib has since appointed his party vice-president Tan Sri Adenan Satem as his successor.

Meanwhile PKR is expected to name lawyer Abdul Raafidin Majidi, 31, from Sibu, as its candidate for the by-election, although no announcement has been made yet.

The Election Commission earlier this month announced that the nomination date would be on March 17 and polling on March 29.