DAP denies seat swap tailor-made for Chong

Following the swap of two Kuching seats between DAP and PKR, DAP state secretary Chong Chieng Jen is expected to move from Kota Sentosa to Padungan, the party's stronghold which the PKR was allowed to contest in the last state election.

However, DAP state chief Wong Ho Leng kept mum on the possible candidate for Padungan when approached by reporters in Sibu this morning.

"We have decided on the candidates, but I have no reason to reveal their identities now," he said.

Wong also denied that the seats swap was tailor-made for Chong (left), to allow him to return to the seat he once vied for in 2001.

"Many people asked me this morning whether Chong will contest again in Padungan, but I must mention the decision is not because of him. This is due to consideration given to the chances of winning."

Seat swap deal shocks many

Wong (standing in photo) said the decision was made "recently", after DAP and PKR resumed their negotiations last week.

Sarawak DAP had once unilaterally announced that the seat negotiations had broken down, triggering central leadership intervention to resume the talks.

The details of seat distribution among PKR, DAP and PAS were finally announced in Kuching last night, shocking many on the exchange of the Padungan and Batu Lintang seats between PKR and DAP, which both parties had won respectively in the 2006 state election.

Speculation is gaining strength that Chong, who is currently the Kota Sentosa state assemblyman, may opt to move back to Padungan, seen as a safer seat for him.

Chong is the MP for Bandar Kuching, under which the Padungan state seat falls, since the 2004 general election and he had also vied for the state seat in the 2001 Sarawak election.

Chong is also expected to face a tough fight if he tries to retain Kota Sentosa, which he won by a slim majority of 531 votes in 2006.

New voters and postal voters have increased significantly since then, and the SUPP is seen as being eager to grab back the seat on April 16.

However, when interviewed by Malaysiakini this afternoon, Chong refuted the claim that he is the "biggest winner" in the seat allocation talks, saying it was a collective decision of PKR and DAP.

‘It is not something I can control.'

The Bandar Kuching MP also said he was not privy to which seat the party would assign him to contest, adding that his personal considerations were not important, and that he would abide by whatever decision the party made.

DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng (right) is expected to reveal the Kuching area candidates in the state capital tomorrow night.

There is also an off chance that  current PKR Padungan state assemblyperson Dominique Ng may join in the fray as a independent candidate, which could pose a serious threat to the DAP.

Ng had done this in the 2001 state election, causing Chong's fall to the SUPP in a three-cornered fight.

On such a possibility materialising, Chong fervently hoped that it would not happen as it could prove to be a severe setback to the realisation of a two-party system.

"The independents will split the votes and we hope the voters will understand the importance of a two-party system."

He said the DAP's decision should be respected by all members.

Wong also issued a stern warning to party members intending to contest as independents.

"If that happens, these members will be expelled. It will be instant expulsion, no more suspensions."

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