KUCHING: The Batu Lintang state seat will see its incumbent See Chee How (pic) going up against four candidates from various parties.
The Batu Lintang state seat will be contested by Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) Voon Lee Shan, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Sih Hua Tong, Sarawak’s People Aspiration party (Aspirasi) Leong Shaw Tong and PKR’s 24-year-old candidate Cherishe Ng.
Returning Officer Theresa Korina Peter said there will be five candidates fighting for the seat and no candidates were rejected.
Met by The Star at the nomination centre at the Kuching South City Hall on Monday (Dec 6), See admitted that it will be a challenge to defend his seat, but his track record as a two-term Batu Lintang assemblymen would give him an advantage over other candidates.
“These are all strong opponents who are coming up with their own ideologies and proposals. However, my track record is for everyone to see and I have a report card to show on Tuesday (Dec 7),” said See.
During the previous state election in 2016, See won the Batu Lintang seat under PKR with an 8,381-vote majority against SUPP and Independent Lina Soo.
He had served as the Batu Lintang assemblyman for two terms, but was sacked from PKR in April 2020 following the “Sheraton Move”.
Later in May, See and former state PKR chairman Baru Bian joined Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), a locally-based Opposition party.
See’s opponent Voon from PBK, was also the Batu Lintang assemblyman from 2006 to 2011.
PSB was formerly Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) friendly but became an independent Opposition party in 2019, and it will be contesting 70 out of the 82 seats up for grabs in the state.
Meanwhile, Ng said when met by reporters after filing her candidacy said that she is excited to be taking on political veterans See and Voon in the fight for the Batu Lintang seat.
“I feel proud that I’m going against them and I will take it in stride. I’m not scared at all. I’m excited,” said the 24-year-old candidate, who was accompanied by her father PKR Sarawak election chief Dominique Ng.