 (From left to right) Wong King Wei (Padungan), Christina Chiew (Batu Kawah), Chong Chieng Jen (Kota Sentosa), Violet Yong Wui Wui (Pending) and Leon Jemat Donald (Simanggang) raising their hands after they were announced as DAP candidates. |
KUCHING (April 3, 2011): DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng released the names of five of the 15 party candidates for the upcoming Sarawak state elections, saying that they will be the "crocodile" catchers.
The five are Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen, who will defend his Kota Sentosa seat, Christina Chiew (Batu Kawah), Leon Jemat Donald (Simanggang), Violet Yong Wui Wui (defending her Pending seat) and Wong King Wei (Padungan).
Chiew and Wong are new faces.
Lim said the DAP central executive committee had endorsed all the 15 candidates recommended by the Sarawak DAP state committee for the April 16 elections.
"The state elections is an important battle because the five candidates will help to chart the direction for Sarawak, and perhaps, Malaysia.
"In essence we are asking the people to have the courage to stand up.
"If Sarawakians dare to stand up, Malaysians also dare to stand up for a new era of democracy, justice, freedom and prosperity," Lim, who is also Penang Chief Minister, said Lim during a rally at the state DAP headquarters in Kuching last night.
"If you look at Sarawak, it almost has everything, but unfortunately, it also has plenty of crocodiles," he stated, claiming that the "too many crocodiles" had caused suffering to people.
"Therefore, the people must vote for the candidates who dare to catch the crocodiles," he stated.
Lim also took issue to with Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud's plan to retire after the next state election, saying many politicians had used the same gambit before to stay in power.
"I still remember SUPP president and Deputy Chief Minister announcing that he, too, would retire after the last state elections, but he remained in the State Cabinet," Lim said.
The names of the remaining 10 DAP candidates will be announced in Sibu later. -- theSun
