Sabah DAP pushes for Stephen Wong's daughter as Sandakan candidate

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP is pushing for Vivian Wong (pic), the daughter of the party’s late state chairman Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt, to contest the Sandakan parliamentary by-election.

Party sources said the state leaders felt that Vivian, 30, was the best choice considering that she worked closely as her father’s public relations officer in the Sabah Health and Wellbeing Ministry.

“She was with her father throughout his political campaign and was very involved in party activities.

“We believe she would be the best choice,” the source said, adding that she had a degree in media communications.

The source said that the party's central executive committee will decide on the best candidate.

“They could have their views for a candidate. We are open to other views,” the source said.

“We are also aware that some may accuse us of fielding families to continue legacies but we feel she is young and a hard working party worker, making her the right choice,” the source said on Thursday (April 4).

Among the names considered for the seat were businessman Datuk John Khoo, who is Sabah Credit Corporation chairman, Wong’s public relations officer Jimmy Tsen and Sandakan DAP member Bryan Chin.

The Election Commission will meet on Friday (April 5) to set the dates for nomination and election for the Sandakan seat following Wong's sudden death on March 28.

The Sandakan seat is widely seen as a stronghold for DAP with the opposition parties yet to make a clear stand on whether they are contesting.