Big-majority victories in Sibu and Lanang

Ling being congratulated by his supporters after winning the Sibu seat.

SIBU: DAP candidates for Sibu and Lanang, Oscar Ling and Alice Lau, attributed their overwhelming victory to a political tsunami by the rakyat.

Both of them not only successfully retained their respective seats, they won by even bigger majorities.

Ling won with a majority of 11,422 votes in a four-cornered fight against 2,841 votes in the last elections.

He collected 33,811 votes against Datuk Andrew Wong Kee Yew (SUPP) who amassed 22,389 votes.

The other two candidates, Jamie Tiew Hie Huong (Sarawak Peace Party- SPP) had 377 votes while Simon Tiong Ing Tung (STAR) garnered only 176 votes. Both lost their deposit.

Alice was ecstatic after beating her two challengers – Kong Sien Chiu of SUPP and Priscilla Lau of SPP with a big majority of 14,546 votes.

She collected 29,905 votes against 15,359 for Kong and 628 votes for Priscilla.

Alice being lifted up by her husband after winning the Lanang seat.

In the 2013 general election, she won by a majority of 8,630 votes beating Tiong Thai King (SUPP).

“I am grateful to the people in the constituency for re-electing me.

“This time it was due to the tsunami that swept the country,” said Ling, adding that he even secured almost 100% support from the Dayak area and more votes from Malays.

He said the fact that the Opposition and Independent candidates won 12 seats out of the 31 parliamentary constituencies showed Sarawak could no longer be considered a Barisan fixed deposit.

Alice was lifted by her husband Loo Chee Wee after she was named the winner.

She too was modest in victory.

“The win was not about myself or DAP or Pakatan Harapan. It was a tsunami that expressed a people’s desire for a change of government.

“The Chief Minister announced a lot of things as election gimmicks but the main priority for voters was change,” she said.

Alice described the Opposition’s good showing this time around as a breakthrough.

“I am proud that Sarawakians have made this possible compared to previous elections where the Opposition won only one seat (2008) and six seats in the last general election,” she said.

Despite a lower turnout of 74.90% against 78.67% in the last election, Alice attributed her increased support to voters in SibuJaya.

An hour prior to the official announcement of the result by the returning officer, Jong Thian Fuk, Kong turned up with his election workers to congratulate her.