KUCHING, Dec 19: The reduction in the number of majority votes for the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in N9 Padungan from 4,270 to 1,198 is a loud message that voters should never be taken for granted.
In stating this, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng stressed that DAP could no longer assume popularity with such results in the State election.
On his end, he said it was never an easy campaign to begin with, for he was a newcomer in the political scene and that he had not enjoyed the support of the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Kuching branch.
“As a first-time candidate, I was very disappointed at how things transpired. As analysed by Jocelyn Tan of the Star, the revocation of support from SUPP Kuching Branch and its subsequent ‘closing down’ was the main contributing factor towards GPS’ failure to capture the Padungan seat.
“This is regrettable, and in my opinion, must be dealt with properly by the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) leadership to make a deterrence out of it,” he said in a social post last night.
Though defeated, Wee said the people of Padungan have spoken, and their voices were loud and clear.
“I, therefore, concede defeat to my opponent, Chong Chieng Jen, with an open heart. Congratulations to DAP, and I thus convey my best wishes to you and your comrades in playing the role of State Opposition. May you carry the mandate of Padungan voters diligently and responsibly.
