KUCHING, June 3 — Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has submitted the name list of potential candidates for the Pujut by-election to the Barisan Nasional leadership, its president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said today.

He said it is up to the Barisan Nasional leadership to decide who they want to pick from the list to contest the July 4 by-election.

"We have submitted names of potential candidates, but I will not reveal the number,” he told reporters after handing over financial grants to 37 non-governmental organisations at the party headquarters here.

He said the name of the candidate will be announced by the BN chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak  after signing the Letter of Authorisation to use the coalition’s symbol in the by-election.

He said Pujut is a traditional party’s seat, although it was contested by businessman Datuk Hii King Chiong, the Barisan Nasional’s direct candidate, in last year’s state election.

Dr Sim, who is also the state Minister of Local Government and Housing, said it will not be easy for the Barisan to wrest Pujut from the DAP in the by-election.

"I can tell you it will be a tough fight for us and it is not a seat that money can buy,” he said.

Meanwhile, SUPP’s breakaway United People’s Party (UPP), which is also claiming the Pujut seat, said it has also submitted its list of potential candidates to the Barisan Nasional leadership.

UPP president Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh  believed that all the names submitted by the party have a chance of taking back the seat from the opposition.

"They are all winnable candidates,” he said.

However, Wong, who is also the state Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce, said UPP will support candidate from other Barisan Nasional component party if its candidate is not picked to contest in the by-election.

In the May 7 state election last year, Dr Ting Tiong Choon of the DAP won the Pujut seat in a four-cornered fight.

But on May 12 this year, he was stripped of his membership by the state assembly for acquiring an Australian citizenship in 2012.

Nomination day for the Pujut by-election is on June 20.