KUCHING, April 24: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian has resigned as a senator in order to contest in the Stampin parliamentary seat against Democratic Action Party (DAP) state chairman Chong Chieng Jen in the 14th general election.
Describing it as “the battle” for the whole of Sarawak, Dr Sim called for a “straight fight, clean fight”, and urged DAP not to use dirty tactics such as badmouthing, name-calling or even making fun of his “short neck”.
Speaking to reporters after state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the state BN candidate list this morning, Dr Sim said he needs everyone’s help for this good fight.
When asked how confident he is to face Chong who is the three-term Bandar Kuching MP, Dr Sim said that he would let the voters judge, as he had successfully brought changes to Batu Kawah after he was elected as a state representative there since 2016.
“All my life… I have been fighting for, serving, loving Sarawak. That’s all I do, and I hope that people give me one chance to prove it,” he said.
However, he expressed his disappointment that DAP was resorting to dirty tactics, such as claiming SUPP has lorry-loads of money and has been giving out cash to voters.
“They have been going around saying that BN is giving out money to voters. So come election, they will say, ‘how come you don’t get your money? Don’t vote for BN’.
“We don’t do (this kind of thing). I have asked my voters in Batu Kawah to lodge police reports because this is criminal,” he said.
He did not want to divulge more on his plans as he said the final decision on candidacy was only made this morning and he did not want to say the wrong thing that can be “used” by the Opposition .
He cited another ‘dirty tactic’ used by the Opposition in the 2011 state election, which involved saying “Dr Sim is a good doctor, keep him in the hospital” and even made fun of his “short neck” now.
“My neck is short, but I walk very fast, because I’ve got many things to do. The Opposition’s neck is very long but they don’t do anything,” he said.
As for the vacant senator post, Dr Sim it was to give way to younger and more capable leaders who can fight for Sarawak in Parliament.
DAP state chairman Chong announced last night that he would take up the challenge to contest in the Stampin seat. His special assistant Dr Kelvin Yii would be taking up the mantle for DAP in Bandar Kuching. — DayakDaily
