Polls Two Doctors To Slug It Out In Batu Kawah

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SARAWAK POLLS | DAP's Dr Kelvin Yii (above) will be attempting to unseat Sarawak United People's Party president Dr Sim Kui Hian as the legislative assemblyperson for Batu Kawah.

Sim, 56, is considered a heavyweight in this bout. He is a famous cardiologist whose father was once a deputy chief minister of Sarawak.

During the 2016 election, Sim wrested the seat from DAP with a convincing 54.12 percent vote share. Batu Kawah is an urban Chinese-majority constituency located south of Kuching.

Challenger Yii, 35, also a medical doctor is currently in his first term as the Bandar Kuching MP. He also chairs the Dewan Rakyat's select committee on health, science and innovation.

Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen explained that Yii had the requisite expertise to critique Sim on the latter's performance as Sarawak Disaster Management Committee's advisor.

Chong said the SDMC, which coordinate's Sarawak's Covid-19 protocols, had performed poorly in recent months resulting in high incidences of Covid-19 deaths and making flying into Sarawak more expensive by restricting flights.

"Yii raised this in Parliament and permitted flights were increased. But it's still not enough," said Chong, adding that costly flight tickets made it difficult for Sarawakians to vote on Dec 18.

As for Chong, he announced that he will be fielded in Padungan, a traditional DAP stronghold located in the Kuching city centre.

Chong said that his move from Kota Sentosa to Pandungan was "unfortunate". He said that since the incumbent Wong King Wei had defected from DAP, he will answer for it.

"I have to be there to answer voters in Padungan in light of what happened. As a leader, I should face the people," he said.

Chong had beaten Sim during the 2018 elections for the Stampin parliamentary seat. DAP's current strategy meant Sim will not get a rematch.

However, DAP's Abdul Aziz Isa is slated for a rematch against Supp's Lo Khere Chiang for the Batu Kitang seat. In 2016, Lo won the seat with 53.48 percent of the vote share.

Chong's special assistant Michael Kong will replace his former boss as DAP's candidate for Kota Sentosa. - Mkini

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