SIBU: Dayak longhouses are usually located in the rural area but in Bukit Assek constituency, which is the heartbeat of Sibu town, there are 13 longhouses.

       Speaking at a press conference on Friday (Dec 10), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Joseph Chieng said together with the other five candidates, they were disallowed to carry out physical campaigning at the longhouses due to the standard operating procedure guidelines.

       Bukit Assek is one of the 18 constituencies where physical campaigning is not allowed as it is located in the urban area with access to the Internet facility.

       "I can't even go to every door of the longhouses to distribute my posters.

       "But I think the longhouse residents know me well as many months ago, I have visited them," he said, adding that there are about 500 voters in the 13 longhouses.

       Chieng said his team had almost completed putting up election materials such as banners, posters and fishtails in the constituency since nomination day on Dec 6.

       "We will wrap it up by today. Unless necessary, we will put up more or replace the damaged ones," he said.

       A naval architect by profession, Chieng claimed he received good response during his live Facebook session, which took place at a coffee shop last night (Dec 9).

       He said there were more than 300 viewers during the live session but it swelled to 10,000 viewers who watched the recorded version.

       The Bukit Assek seat will see a six-cornered fight between former rep Irene Chang (DAP), Chieng, Priscilla Lau (Parti Bumi Kenyalang), Ting Kee Nguan (Parti Sarawak Bersatu), Jess Lau (Sarawak People's Aspiration Party) and Independent Hii Tiong Huat.