Sarawak DAP has announced the first seven constituencies it plans to contest in the upcoming state election, all of which are located in the Kuching division.
Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said the party would defend the Chinese-majority seats of Padungan and Pending, while seeking to reclaim Kota Sentosa, Batu Kawah and Batu Kitang, which it had previously held.
DAP will also challenge Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in its strongholds of Tasik Biru and Opar, both Dayak-majority constituencies, the Borneo Post reported.
“Candidate-wise, I think I’ll leave it for another day,” he was quoted as saying.
DAP considers additional seats
Chong said DAP was also considering contesting Batu Lintang, a Chinese-majority constituency traditionally contested by PKR.
The DAP vice-chairman added that the party would decide which seats to contest in Sibu, Sarikei, Bintulu and Miri within the next two weeks.
DAP held only two of the 82 seats in the now-dissolved Sarawak state assembly.
Chong said the party wanted to strengthen the opposition’s presence in the legislature and provide greater checks and balances on GPS.
“There is no democracy without opposition. We are going into the election to offer the people of Sarawak a stronger opposition and, hopefully, more voices in the state assembly,” he said.
DAP-PBDS cooperation still under discussion
On possible cooperation with Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Chong said the two parties shared common ground but had yet to reach a formal agreement.
He said further discussions were necessary, including a meeting with the PBDS president.
Chong, who is also Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairman, said PKR had yet to decide whether to contest in the state election, pending a decision by party president Anwar Ibrahim.
“As far as PH is concerned, PKR has not indicated whether it is contesting. We will do our own planning first,” he said.
