Kota Kinabalu: DAP is fielding a mix of fresh and experienced leaders to contest eight seats in the 17th state election, with the list showing a balance of men and women candidates.
Among them is perhaps one of the youngest candidates in this election, 25-year-old Chan Loong Wei, who will contest the Luyang seat.
“In every election, we make strategic moves, especially in deploying our strongest candidates to face certain seats,” said DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke during the candidate announcement ceremony at Magellan Sutera Harbour, Saturday.
The party will defend six of its existing seats, namely Likas, Luyang, Kapayan, Sri Tanjong, Elopura and Tanjong Papat, while venturing into two new territories, namely Tanjung Aru and an interior seat yet to be announced.
Besides Loong Wei, the other fresh faces include Tang Szu Ching, 29, who will contest Tanjong Papat and Philip Yap, 40, who will stand in Sri Tanjong.
The party is also deploying Datuk Chan Foong Hin, a Deputy Minister cum Kota Kinabalu MP, to contest the Tanjung Aru seat. This is DAP’s first serious attempt at the constituency.
“This is not an easy seat for the DAP. We are not the incumbent there. We are facing the incumbent and it is a mixed seat in Tanjung Aru. That is why we deployed Chan Foong Hin,” said Loke.
In another strategic move, Sabah DAP Chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe will shift from his stronghold in Luyang to contest the Likas seat instead. His former political secretary, Chan Loong Wei, will take over Luyang.
“He (Phoong) is popular in Sabah. He can contest anywhere. Because he is popular in Luyang, that is why we want him to be popular outside Luyang as well,” Loke said, adding that this reflects DAP’s spirit of leaders stepping out of their comfort zones to expand the party’s influence.
Other candidates include Datuk Jannie Lasimbang defending Kapayan and Sandakan MP Vivian Wong contesting Elopura.
Loke said the eighth candidate for the interior seat would be announced soon, hinting it would be a woman.
However, negotiations with coalition partners are still ongoing for that seat.
“We are not a greedy party. We compete in the seats where we feel that there is a bright chance of winning and in this interior seat, we do have a track record there,” he said.
He said the party wants to avoid clashing with major coalition partners and will give time for an understanding to be reached.
“We want harmony. If possible, we do not want to clash. We will try our best to avoid clashes,” he said, adding that all DAP candidates will contest under the Pakatan Harapan logo, despite the party previously using its rocket symbol in Sabah and Sarawak elections.
“We are part of the federal coalition and DAP, as a national party, and our Sabah DAP leaders are also part of the Federal Government.
“That is the reason why we stick to the Harapan logo,” he said.
In the 16th Sabah election, DAP contested seven seats and won six. However, two of its former elected representatives from Elopura and Sri Tanjong defected to Parti Warisan in 2022, while Tanjong Papat incumbent Datuk Frankie Poon left the party in October.
Pakatan Harapan comprises DAP, PKR, Amanah and Upko.
