PROFILE | The nation stands on the cusp of the 14th general elections (GE14).

Parliament is yet to be dissolved and election day yet to be declared but one aspiring candidate in the Land of the Hornbill is already busy on the campaign trail.

Although his candidacy for Sarawak’s Stampin parliamentary seat is “official for the time being”, DAP young Turk, Dr Kelvin Yii is off to a head start.

On Feb 24, Pakatan Harapan Sarawak chairperson and DAP Sarawak chief, Chong Chien-Jen told reporters at a luncheon in Kuching that Yii is the chosen candidate for now, “but anything is possible in politics”.

Chong’s shot-gun announcement of Yii’s candidacy was to dispel speculations and doubts as to who will be the favoured candidate for Stampin in GE14. He will be replacing the DAP incumbent Julian Tan, who will be retiring from politics and will not be defending his seat after serving one term.

“One week is a long time in politics, and anything can happen,” says Yii, but he is staying the course, and ramping up his vigour to campaign.       

Long before the announcement of his candidacy, Yii was already on the beat with a retinue of DAP comrades, selling the party’s monthly bulletin, The Rocket, at Kota Sentosa, a township in the constituency of Stampin.

It was only days before the Chinese New Year (CNY), but Yii, Chong’s special assistant, probably having got a hint of his Stampin berth, was spotted by the Malaysiakini hard at work.

He gleefully exchanged CNY greetings at Kota Sentosa’s You How restaurant and the bustling wet market area, cashing in on the gregarious Chinese community who were out shopping for last-minute CNY goodies. 

The 32-year-old medical doctor who also holds a law degree took this writer on a sojourn of the constituency, where he touched base with voters in the Borneo Development Corporation or the BDC enclave.

Armed with the party’s print organ, Yii has put himself and his volunteers through a gruelling pace, engaging in “kopi tiam diplomacy” in the morning and making house calls at night to catch up with voters after they return home from work.

Married just a little more than a month ago, and pursuing a Masters in medical law, Yii has a bit too much on his plate but he is passionate and yearns for a change in the ballot.

Common ideals

“Stampin is now a ‘grey area’ for the opposition after the re-delineation exercise prior to the 2016 state elections,” he says.

“There are now two ‘Batus’ in the constituency, Batu Kitang and Batu Kawah,” adding that the former Batu Lintang area, which was part of Stampin, has now been moved to Bandar Kuching.

“Batu Lintang, with more than 20,000 voters with 70 percent of them consisting ethnic Chinese, had largely contributed to DAP’s win in the 2013 general election,” says Yii.    

However, he is still optimistic of a DAP victory where the battle for the seat is expected to become a rough “local derby” as speculation is rife that a SUPP bigwig and a candidate from Star (State Reform Party) are expected to take on Yii, not to mention the odd vote-splitting independent candidate or candidates who might join the fray.

If this speculation turns out to be true, it is likely that SUPP will direct all its machinery, lock, stock and barrel to Stampin to ensure a SUPP victory.     

However, Yii is also banking on votes from the native community which has slightly increased in numbers in Batu Kitang and Batu Kawah after the re-delineation exercise.

According to him, the largely Bidayuh and Iban voters living in Batu Kitang and Batu Kawah are “semi-urban” who want to see a change in the federal government.

“The people here, whether the natives or other ethnic groups, share common ideals as their counterparts in Semenanjung on the macro level and cannot justify the mistakes of the federal government,” says Yii.

“Bread and butter issues are top on the list of grouses as the cost of living is becoming increasingly unbearable with an inflation rate that is ballooning, and a ringgit that is shrinking,” he adds.

“The GST is a major scourge that has curtailed the day’s spending for groceries and other household items. 

“People want a change of government for the better. They want an accountable and transparent government and an end to corruption and kleptocracy, especially in urban and suburban landscape.

“In short, it is all-round good governance that people are pining for,” adds Yii.

He also pointed out that the East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah are seeking “territory recognition” and want to be seen as equal partners with the Peninsular states.

BN indoctrination

Yii sees himself as a social democrat and is thankful and feels honoured to be given the mandate as a candidate for Stampin - his first innings in a general election. 

Although a rookie in politics, Yii seems to exude a “quiet confidence”, is prudent, astute, and articulates his thoughts like a seasoned politician.

However, he does not see himself as a charismatic politician yearning to build a “personality cult” around him but to be an effective policy-maker.

“It is my mission to create meaningful blueprints for nation-building and social engineering so that society can be elevated through the many critical sectors like education and healthcare, employment, housing, and in my pet interest, the empowerment of youth,” says Yii.

“I see youth as leaders of today although it is often said that they are ‘future leaders’. Youths must have important roles in politics today and not later.

“They must have adequate education, have passion and creativity and a mindset of ‘thinking out of the box’ as it is all these that will prepare them to face the Industrial Revolution 4.0,” he adds.

Yii concedes that the biggest challenge in wooing voters is to neutralise the 60 years of BN indoctrination, especially in the heartlands.

“For too long Sarawak’s voters in the rural areas of the state have been influenced by the state-appointed ‘tuai rumah’ (headman) and are ignorant of the bigger issues such as kleptocracy and poor governance of national assets and non-adherence to the rule of law.

“They have a poor understanding of the democratic process, believing that there is only, one ruling government and that is, BN.

“They also fear that the country will be destabilised by anarchy and civil conflicts, if a new government comes on board, so they prefer the status quo and choose to remain ensconced in their comfort zone,” says Yii. 

According to him, opposition politicians also have to contend with false propaganda, fake news and incorrect information that come as last-minute salvos during the period of campaigning.

These can cause a change in public opinion and cause vote swings, he says.

Yii is young, a professional and is fervent about his dalliance with politics.

But electioneering has its perils and pitfalls. Will this young doctor be able to weather the sandstorms on his campaign trail?

It will be in his good stead to remember that elections are never won on grand announcements or a mile-long litany in the manifesto, but rather on real development on the ground which people can feel.

Being a first-timer, Yii does not have a track record to prove anything. However, if sublime intuition is an acceptable indicator, it looks like the “Rocket” will be berthed in Stampin for another term.