Chong beats Dr Sim in Stampin

KUCHING: State Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen would be the new Stampin MP following his win over Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian of Barisan Nasional (BN)-Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) with a handsome majority of 14,221 votes.

Chieng Jen, who contested in the parliamentary constituency for the first time, polled 33,060 votes versus Dr Sim’s 18,839 votes amidst a voter turnout of 79.3 per cent.

The result was announced by returning officer ( RO) Elizabeth Loh at 9.53pm in the official tallying centre at Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) last night.

Chieng Jen, who was accompanied by his wife Grace Tan and his parents Chong Siew Chiang and Sim Yaw Sik, expressed his gratitude to all Sarawakian voters for placing their confidence on Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 14th general election (GE14). Chieng Jen – also PH Sarawak chairman – said the results from the polls proved the predictions for the state BN.

“Though many people have said that there’s no excitement in Sarawak; that there’s no passion or enthusiasm for this election, the results have proven otherwise.

“The undercurrents are ‘shaking’, and there is ‘thirst’ for justice from Sarawakians,” he said.

Chieng Jen was Bandar Kuching MP for three terms before passing the baton to his special assistant Dr Kelvin Yii, who fought for the seat against Kho Teck Wan of BN – and won.

In the last parliamenatry election, BN lost Stampin to DAP for the first time when then- deputy works minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, who had held the seat for five terms, was defeated by DAP’s greenhorn Julian Tan by a whopping 18,670vote majority in a three-cornered battle, which also involved State Reform Party Sarawak (STAR)’s Lina Soo.