“Nomination will be on Feb 4, while early voting will be held on Feb 12,” EC chairman Hashim Abdullah said at a press conference.

Adenan won the Tanjung Datu seat in last year’s Sarawak election with a majority of 5,892 votes. The then Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) chief defeated PKR candidate Jazolkipli Numan who picked up only 468 votes.

Last week, sources from PBB, which is the largest Barian Nasional component party in the state, told FMT that there were two names proposed as the leading candidates for the seat.

They are Adenan’s wife, Jamilah Anu, and the couple’s youngest son, 26-year-old Azizul Annuar Adenan.

However, a report published by the New Straits Times last weekend quoted sources as saying that five names were tabled to PBB.

These names were not revealed, but according to the report, three were individuals close to Adenan.

PBB is set to meet this Saturday to discuss preparations for the upcoming Tanjung Datu by-election.

Adenan, 72, passed away from heart complications at the Heart Centre of the Sarawak General Hospital, Kota Samarahan, last week.