The hornbill plush toy produced by Sarawak DAP for its state election campaign is nearly sold out.

According to DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua, virtually all of the 30,000 soft toys sold at RM10 have run out in cities and towns across the state.

NONE A bigger version of the soft toy, sold at RM60, is also running out. Pua said there are only about 300 left from an original consignment of 3,000.

Pua described the brisk sale of the soft toy as a case of “Ubah-mania” and the party has been receiving complaints from supporters on their inability to get hold of one.

“We have just brought in the last batch of 300 big ‘Ubah’ from Kuala Lumpur. Once these are sold, we will not produce any more,” he said.

He said that the party produced a low number of soft toys because they were uncertain about the reception.

“We never expected it to sell so well,” said Pua.

Crowds seek signature on beak

At opposition rallies across major cities and towns across the state, supporters were seen purchasing the soft toy and crowding around DAP leaders seeking their signature on the mascot’s beak.

NONE During a rally at Kuching on Sunday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was mobbed by hundreds of supporters seeking his signature and was cornered against the ceramah stage.

The masses only reluctantly allowed Lim to leave the venue after the emcee explained that he was rushing off to another rally.

NONE The ‘Ubah' mascot is the brainchild of DAP elections preperation committee chief Ooi Leng Heng, who is an accomplished graphics designer.

“I'm very happy. I never imagined that the response would be so good,” he said.

‘Ubah’ made his first appearance in a short campaign video clip, also produced by Ooi, in which the plucky bird said he represented the people and comically knocked Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud into space.