Adenan, who is also state BN chairman, will announce the full list of direct BN candidates tomorrow.
Dr Jerip will contest the Mambong seat, which was formerly called Bengoh.
The announcement was made by Adenan in his speech when launching the state government office complex here.
Adenan, however, declined to disclose the total number of direct BN candidates to be fielded in the coming state election.
Dr Jerip won the seat three times since 2001 under the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP)-BN banner.
He left the party in 2014 to form the United People’s Party (UPP) – a BN-friendly party – with State Local Government and Community Development Minister Wong Soon Koh and two other SUPP elected representatives, Ranum Mina (Opar) and Johnical Rayong (Engkilili).
In MIRI, Sarawak PAS Secretary Mukhtar Suhaili confirmed that a non-Muslim candidate would be the party’s first candidate to be named for the election, but remained tight-lipped over the candidate’s identity.
“The official announcement of all 11 candidates, including the non-Muslim candidate and sole woman candidate, will be made tomorrow night in Bintulu,” he told Bernama today.
However, Mukhtar said this time PAS candidates came from diverse backgrounds, comprising professionals from multinational companies, pensioners, entrepreneurs and former civil servants.
“We have been moving on the ground in Sarawak with our own infrastructure programme called ‘Untukmu Sarawak’, implemented in 2014. Based on the feedback, we are confident that we have a chance.”
For the 11th state election, PAS will be contesting in Samariang, Pantai Damai, Muara Tuang, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau, Beting Maro, Kakus, Jepak, Lambir, Pujut and Samalaju, which is a new seat.
In the last Sarawak state election in 2011, PAS contested in five constituencies – Tanjong Datu, Muara Tuang, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau and Beting Maro – but failed to win any seat.
When asked on Parti Amanah Negara’s (Amanah) plans to contest, Mukhtar said it would enhance BN’s chances of winning instead of denting the ruling party’s winning streak.
“With or without Amanah’s presence in the state election, we have made our preparations and we are ready to face anyone.”
Amanah Deputy President Salahuddin Ayub was quoted as saying on Sunday that the party would be contesting 13 seats in the state election.
– BERNAMA