KUCHING, April 19: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak will announce its remaining five candidates who will be contesting in the 14th General Election (GE14) next Monday (April 23).
The announcement will be made by DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang at DAP Batu Kawah service centre here during a party members’ gathering, confirmed DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen.
DAP will be contesting in nine seats in GE14, two seats less than the last GE. Lawas and Mukah will be contested by PKR representatives, so PKR will contest in a total of 16 seats while fellow Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition partner Anamah will contest in six seats.
DAP had earlier announced that Lanang, Sibu and Sarikei will be defended by incumbents Alice Lau, Oscar Ling an Wong Ling Biu respectively while their Kapit candidate is Paren Nyawi.
The soon-to be announced candidates are for the five remaining seats of Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Bintulu, Serian and Mas Gading.
When asked whether he will be defending Bandar Kuching or move to contest in the “grey seat” of Stampin to face Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) president Sim Kui Hian as rumoured, Chong the three-term Bandar Kuching MP did not answer directly.
“Even if an official announcement is made by DAP, as long as it is before nomination day, every change is possible; which candidates to stand where will be subject to the situation,” he told a press conference today.
He stressed that the party’s strategy is to win the maximum number of seats for a political tsunami in order to change government.
It has been rumoured that Chong will be contesting in the more vulnerable seat of Stampin and leave the “safer” Bandar Kuching seat to newcomer Dr Kelvin Yii.
Stampin is considered a “grey” constituency following the redelineation exercise carried out prior to the 2016 state elections, which saw the state seat of Batu Lintang from Stampin moved to Bandar Kuching
Meanwhile, Chong charged that the Padawan Municipal Council had abused its power by ordering DAP to remove its party flag outside their service centre in Batu Kawa by noon today.
He said DAP had followed the required procedures and applied to use the carpark area and should be allowed to put their party flag, as compared to Barisan Nasional (BN), which has set up numerous flags everywhere. — DayakDaily
