GE14 | Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen today revealed that he will be contesting in the parliamentary seat of Stampin instead of Bandar Kuching.

DAP won both seats by similar majorities but Chong claimed Stampin had become less safe as voters there were shifted to neighbouring Bandar Kuching.

"In the 13th, general election, DAP won Stampin by 18,000 votes.

"BN thought it was hard for them to win back the seat so they moved out around 28,000 voters in Batu Lintang from Stampin into Bandar Kuching so that they have better chance to win Stampin," he told a ceramah in Kuching tonight.

Chong replaces incumbent Stampin MP Julian Tan Kok Ping who had publicly said that he did not intend to defend his seat.

DAP won Stampin by 18,670 votes and Bandar Kuching by 19,642 votes in the last general election.

The ceramah tonight saw Chong announcing the remaining DAP candidates for the 14th general election in Sarawak.

Chong's aide Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen will replace him in Bandar Kuching.

When contacted, Yii told Malaysiakini that moving over to contest in Bandar Kuching means he has very big shoes to fill, as Chong has done a great job in the constituency since 2004.

“I thank the party for giving me the opportunity and the privilege to be a candidate in Bandar Kuching and am ready to serve the people there if they give me the mandate on polling day.

“I pledge to give my best fight and win the hearts of the people, come polling day and serve them well,” he added.

Yii also pointed out that people tend to think that Bandar Kuching is a “safe seat”, but "I will not sit on my laurels as no vote bank is to be taken for granted”.

The other candidates announced were Edward Luak (Serian), Tony Chan Yew Chiew (Bintulu) and Mordi Bimol (Mas Gading).

All three seats were won by BN in the last general election.

Last Monday, Sarawak DAP had also announced its candidate for four other seats.

In that announcement, it was revealed that incumbents Alice Lau (Lanang), Oscar Ling (Sibu) and Wong Lin Biu (Sarikei) will defend their seats.

Meanwhile, accountant Paren Nyawi will contest in Kapit, which BN won by a landslide in the last general election.