KUCHING: DAP has unveiled the names of 18 of its 26 candidates for the coming Sarawak state election, but will not be announcing the identities of the remaining eight candidates yet for strategic reasons.

       Of the 18 candidates listed, 11 are new faces while two are former assemblymen.

       One of the first-timers is Tanjong Batu candidate Tony Chiew, who is the son and long-time assistant of incumbent Chiew Chiu Sing.

       Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said Chiu Sing was not contesting this time as he was stepping back from frontline politics after four terms as Tanjong Batu assemblyman.

       The two former assemblymen are Irene Chang and David Wong, who will defend their Bukit Assek and Pelawan seats respectively.

       Chong said candidates for six seats in the Kuching area would only be announced after Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) names their candidates.

       "We will see the candidates fielded by (GPS component party) Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) and adjust ours accordingly," he told a press conference after presenting authorisation letters to the candidates at party headquarters here on Friday (Nov 26).

       The six seats are Pending, Padungan, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kawah, Batu Kitang and Stakan. Chong is the Kota Sentosa incumbent while Pending was also held by DAP prior to the state legislative assembly's dissolution.

       Asked if this meant he would move to Batu Kawah, Chong said it was a possibility.

       On two other seats in the Sibu area – Bawang Assan and Dudong – he said DAP was holding off on announcing its candidates to leave room for talks on cooperating with Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).

       "Negotiations with PSB before this were not very successful. Nevertheless, we are willing to compromise and open the door to a final arrangement with PSB.

       "Not naming our candidates for Bawang Assan and Dudong is a show of our sincerity," he said.

       The incumbents for Bawang Assan and Dudong are from PSB.

       The DAP candidates are:

       1) Tasik Biru – Granda Aing

       2) Mambong – Chang Hon Hiung

       3) Kedup – Laerry Jabul

       4) Bukit Semuja – Brolin Nicholson Benedict Achung

       5) Simanggang – Leon Jimat Donald

       6) Repok – Wong Pak Ming

       7) Meradong – Yong Siew Wei

       8) Bukit Assek – Irene Chang

       9) Pelawan – David Wong

       10) Pelagus – Solomon Kumbong

       11) Bukit Goram – Joseph Jinggut

       12) Baleh – Kenneth Lagong

       13) Tanjong Batu – Tony Chiew

       14) Kemena – John Bryan Anthony

       15) Samalaju – Tonny Ung

       16) Piasau – Peter Hee

       17) Pujut – Alan Ling

       18) Senadin – Marcus Hugo