GE14 | The state assemblyperson for Batu Kitang, Lo Khere Chiang, is lobbying to park his candidacy for the Stampin parliamentary seat in his state of Sarawak.

The 58-year-old seasoned politician and former civil engineer says he is hoping to be given a chance by his party, SUPP, to serve this parliamentary constituency as he qualifies to be a potential candidate.

Contacted by Malaysiakini today, Lo said he is confident to wrest back the seat from the opposition in the coming general election.

Lo, who is also a councillor with the Kota Padawan Municipal Council, said he has established a good rapport with the people in Stampin and has devoted his time to the community.

“I have worked hard on fulfilling my state election promises and I fully intend to continue to keep up with this positive momentum and to do more for Sarawak if Sarawakians deliver me into Parliament via Stampin.

“I am ready and willing to wrest back Stampin from DAP, to continue Tok Nan’s (former Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s) initiative for a stronger Sarawak and to speak up for an autonomous Sarawak in Parliament, if I have the mandate of our people and my leaders,” Lo said confidently.

‘Vote with a logical mind’

In a posting in the SUPP website today, Lo also urged Sarawakians to vote with a logical mind, to continue Tok Nan’s legacy and to achieve a stronger Sarawak or be easily swamped with twisted and negative emotions from the opposition.

“What happens in Kuala Lumpur should remain in Kuala Lumpur,” he said, adding, “We do not want Umno to flood the Sarawak state legislative assembly, the way they have infiltrated Sabah’s state legislative assembly.

“Likewise, we do not want Pakatan Harapan to penetrate Sarawak and to flood our state legislative assembly too.

“We do not want Malayans (political parties originating from West Malaysia) to rule Sarawak. All Sarawakians must, therefore, remain united and support Sarawak-based parties as this is a fight for a stronger Sarawak,” Lo added.

He said: “We will continue to fight for Sarawak’s autonomous rights as laid down under MA63. We have to be clear that there is no talk of cessation from Malaysia but that does not mean we cannot fight for more autonomy for Sarawak.

“We, Sarawakians are optimistic and we are confident that our autonomous rights will be restored to us in time to come as promised by the present Chief Minister Abang Johari Abang Openg,” said Lo.

He also said Sarawak needs a caring government that takes care of the people, not only a more developed Sarawak with better roads and infrastructure but especially a Sarawak where the poor and the less privileged must be helped and looked after first.

Stampin a hot seat

Of late the Stampin parliamentary seat seems to have come under the attention of both SUPP and DAP state and parliamentary representatives.

With DAP incumbent Julian Tan declining to pitch for another term, the seat is up for grabs and is becoming “hotter by the day” with one too many candidates from both sides of the divide bidding for it.

At the moment, speculation is rife that SUPP and DAP honchos Dr Sim Kui Hian and Chong Chieng Jen, respectively, may erect their battle tents there after nomination day.

Prior to this speculation Chong’s special assistant Dr Kelvin Yii was slated to be the candidate for Stampin.

The tale of three Batus

Stampin is now a grey area for the opposition after the re-delineation exercise prior to the 2016 state elections.

There are now two “Batus” in the constituency, Batu Kitang and Batu Kawah. The third “Batu” or Batu Lintang, which was part of Stampin, has now been moved to Bandar Kuching.

Batu Lintang, which has more than 20,000 voters, of whom 70 percent comprise ethnic Chinese, had largely contributed to DAP’s win in Stampin in the 2013 general election.