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By Ling Hui and Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Dec 2: “I have to be there to answer to the people in Padungan after their elected representative left (the party),” says Chong Chieng Jen who is contesting in Padungan in the upcoming Sarawak polls.
Chong, who is also Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman, said he must take responsibility as a leader to face the people of Padungan after its assemblyman Wong King Wei resigned from DAP in 2020.
“It’s unfortunate that the candidate previously nominated and elected for Padungan has left and changed course.
“So, as the leader, I think I should face the people,” said Chong after announcing the names of DAP candidates contesting in six Kuching seats including himself at DAP headquarters here today.
Kota Sentosa, Batu Kitang, Stakan and Batu Kawah will be respectively contested by Michael Kong, Abdul Aziz Isa, Leslie Ting and Dr Kelvin Yii while Pending to be defended by incumbent Violet Yong.
Meanwhile, Chong said DAP candidates for the Sibu seats of Dudong and Bawang Assan would be announced tomorrow (Dec 3) in Sibu.
“I will be going down to Sibu personally tomorrow to hand over the letter of authorisation to use the party logo on the ballot paper,” he added.
Following Wong’s resignation from DAP on July 26, 2020, Wong said he would be contesting in the State elections as an independent but there has yet to be any official announcement of his intended constituency. — Dayakdaily