Editor’s note: Headline corrected to say Dr Yii will be defending Bandar Kuching for his second term as MP.
By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Nov 5: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Democratic Action Party (DAP), and Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) will engage in a three-cornered battle for the P195 Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15).
Bandar Kuching incumbent Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (Pakatan Harapan-DAP) will face off against SUPP Kuching Youth chief Eric Tay Tze Kok (Gabungan Parti Sarawak-Sarawak United Peoples’ Party), and PBK president Voon Lee Shan.
Election Commission (EC) returning officer Zainab Mazali announced the candidates today at 11.40am at the nomination centre (PPC) at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Community Hall here, after no objections were received.
Nomination was closed earlier at 10am.
In terms of ballot order, Tay was allocated number one, followed by Voon (two), and Dr Yii (three).
Earlier, at approximately 8.35am, Voon was the first to arrive at the PPC with his proposer Lee Li Sia and seconder Lim Sing Yee.
Voon’s supporters could be seen outside the MBKS compound waving PSB flags and cheering for him. Last month, PBK said aimed to contest seven seats under the PSB logo for GE15, with the exception of in Mas Gading.
Meanwhile, DAP supporters could also be seen outside the MBKS compound as early as 8.30am, chanting and cheering for their candidate in high spirits.
Dr Yii arrived at the PPC approximately at 8.45am, accompanied by his proposer Violet Yong Wui Wui and seconder Choo Chiew Jun.
Not to be left out, spirited GPS supporters arrived in a large group at the MBKS compound at 9am, waving the party’s flag and chanting victory slogans.
Among the supporters seen were MBKS mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, SUPP Kuching branch chairwoman Datuk Lily Yong, SUPP Batu Lintang chairman Sih Hua Tong, and SUPP Women chief Kho Teck Wan.
At approximately 9.08am, Tay arrived at the PPC with his proposer Bong Lian Huan and seconder Lucas Yong Kuet Chung.
On Oct 23, Sarawak DAP announced that Dr Yii will be defending the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat in GE15.
In GE14, Dr Yii won the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat with 45,548 votes against SUPP’s Kho who garnered 12,575 votes.
In the meantime, Tay is one of the new candidates fielded by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and is running for election the first time.
As for Voon, the PBK president ultimately decided to contest in Bandar Kuching.
As the State capital, Bandar Kuching is a highly coveted seat in Sarawak, and DAP has represented the constituency more often than the ruling coalition. — DayakDaily
