KOTA KINABALU, Nov 8 — DAP today unveiled seven of its planned eight candidates for the upcoming state election, holding off on announcing one more — believed to be the Kemabong seat.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the final interior seat would be contested by a woman but that the party was still in talks with another coalition partner.
“We were supposed to announce a seat in the interior, but we are still in negotiations with another coalition within the government,” said Loke.
He is believed to be referring to Senator Noorita Sual, the former Tenom MP. DAP is understood to be negotiating with Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) over the seat.
Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Ginger Phoong will contest the Likas seat, while deputy chairman Datuk Chan Foong Hin is set to run in Tanjung Aru. Sandakan MP Vivian Wong will contest the Elopura seat.
“We wanted to bring in heavyweights and known working candidates to win these seats for us. So we made an exception in our policy for them,” Loke said.
Meanwhile, 40-year-old Philip Yap will contest the Sri Tanjong seat, Tang Szu Ching will run in Tanjong Papat, and DAPSY youth chief Chan Loong Wei will contest in Luyang.
“Chan is our Gen Z candidate. We want him to be the first Gen Z elected representative in Malaysia,” said Loke.
Incumbent Datuk Jannie Lasimbang will defend her Kapayan seat.
The average age of the candidates is 39, said Loke.
In the last election, DAP contested seven seats and won six, but two of its assemblymen have since defected to Parti Warisan.
