KUCHING: The most keenly-watched fight in the 11th Sarawak election is happening just outside the state capital in the growing township of Batu Kawah.
Named after a stone crater, the constituency with 62 per cent Chinese and 36 per cent Bumiputera voters will determine the fate of SUPP president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian as the battle for urban seats takes centre stage once again.
SUPP and four BN direct candidates, all former SUPP members, are mounting the challenge against DAP and PKR in the 15 Chinese-majority areas at stake.
In 2011, DAP captured 12 and PKR took one, all at the expense of SUPP which retained only one Chinese seat, Bawang Assan.
This is the biggest election in Sarawak history with the battlefield expanded from 71 to 82 seats.
BN won Bukit Sari and Bukit Kota uncontested on nomination day, leaving 35 straight fights, 28 three-cornered, 12 four-cornered and five five-cornered contests for the 80 seats left to be decided Saturday.