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‘Street smart’ DAP newbie sets the pace in Stampin

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...

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