In a press conference today, state DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen announced the 29 candidates who would be filling the 30 seats the party plans to contest in.
The name of the candidate contesting for the Baleh seat, will be announced this Saturday after the initial candidate, Larry Asap, was announced for Bukit Goram instead.
“Last night Larry Sng, who was supposed to be contesting in Bukit Goram resigned so we spoke to them (SWP) and agreed that we (DAP) would be contesting the seat instead.
“As for the Baleh seat, we will be deciding on the candidate by Saturday,” Chong told reporters at the Kuching DAP headquarters here today.
He added that 17 new candidates including six women were in the list of 29, which for the first time, was more Dayak-centric.
Although confident of winning the seats, Chong said the party expected some difficulties in urban areas where support seemed to lie with the state’s Chief Minister Adenan Satem.
“There has been a change of chief minister and the feeling on the ground is slightly different compared to (former chief minister) Taib Mahmud’s era.
“But we are still strategising our campaign because we believe people can see that Adenan is still a part of Barisan Nasional (BN) and hence, is bound to implement policies that are set by the party.
“BN’s cause at the end of the day is to protect their cronies at the expense of commoners and the rakyat-based policies announced by Adenan are just lies. He alone cannot do anything because he’s part of BN.”
Of the 29 candidates, Mordi Bimol is contesting in Tasik Biru; Wong King Wei in Padungan; Christina Chiew in Batu Kawah; and Violet Yong in Pending.
“As for Stakan we have Abdul Aziz Isa; for Mambong is Sanjan Daik; Edward Luak in Bukit Semuja; Andrew Nyabe in Kedup; and Leon Jimat in Simanggang.
“For Kota Sentosa we have myself, Chong Chieng Jen; for Repok is Yong Siew Wei; Meradong is Ting Tze Fui; Pakan, Rinda Juliza Alexander; Ngemah, Richard Lias; and Bukit Assek, Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling.”
The other candidates are Yap Hoi Liong in Dudong; Chiew Sung Ngie in Bawang Assan; David Wong in Pelawan; Frankie Bendindang in Pelagus; Paren Nyawi in Katibas; Kenneth Adan Silek in Murum; and Chiew Chiu Sing in Tanjong Batu.
Also named were Leighton Manjah in Kemena; Baba Emperan in Samalaju; Alan Ling Sie Kiong in Piasau; Dr Ting Tiong Choon in Pujut; Baru Langub in Senadin; and Paul Raja for the Mulu seat.