KUCHING – The much-speculated showdown between state DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen and Sarawak United People’s Party supremo Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian in Batu Kawah in the December 18 state elections fizzled out today.
In announcing more DAP candidates for the state elections in addition to those revealed last Friday, Chong said he will not be defending his Kota Sentosa seat, but instead will be moving on to contest in the Chinese-majority urban seat of Padungan.
The Padungan seat, a DAP stronghold, was left vacant when its representative Wong King Wei quit the party last year.
As predicted earlier, Chong announced that his special assistant Michael Kong will be pitching for the Kota Sentosa seat.
However, the surprise in today’s press conference was the announcement that Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii will be taking on Batu Kawah incumbent Dr Sim – something that political observers failed to factor in before.
Chong announced six other seats today.
Incumbent Violet Yong will defend her Pendang seat, while Abdul Aziz Isa will stand in Batu Kitang and Kuching DAP Youth secretary Leslie Ting in the Stakan constituency.
Batu Kawah incumbent, cardiologist Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also state local government and housing minister, won the seat for the first time in the 2016 state election.
He had received 6,414 votes then, beating DAP’s incumbent Christina Chiew Wang See by 2,085 ballots. – The Vibes, December 2, 2021
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