Sarawak polls: Chong to contest Padungan, says he will tell locals why former rep Wong King Wei left DAP

KUCHING: Chong Chieng Jen will not be defending the Kota Sentosa seat and will be contesting in Padungan instead.

The Sarawak DAP chief said he had to explain to Padungan constituents why Wong King Wei had decided to quit the party.

"It is unfortunate that he left the party... as the (state DAP) leader, I should face the people," he said during the Sarawak DAP candidate announcement at its headquarters here on Thursday (Dec 2).

Chong was Kota Sentosa assemblyman for three terms and last won the seat in the 2016 state election with a 2,819-vote majority.

Michael Kong will now contest the Kota Sentosa seat.

Meanwhile, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii will be taking on SUPP chief Dr Sim Kui Hian in the Batu Kawah seat.

Chong said Dr Yii had the experience to take on Dr Sim, who also handles the Sarawak Disaster and Management Committee (SDMC).

"After much consideration, we decided to field Dr Yii at Batu Kawah," said Chong.

Chong also claimed that Dr Sim could have committed an election offence by hanging up political banners before nomination day on Dec 6.

He said a police report had been lodged over the matter.

In July last year, Wong, the former Padungan assemblymen, resigned from DAP, citing disillusionment with the party's direction and management.