KUCHING: DAP candidate Dr Kelvin Yii is expecting a tough fight in Batu Kawah against its incumbent Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, stating the latter could have more funds and a strong machinery.
Yii however hoped the people would give him the opportunity to be the voice of the unheard, the poor and other ordinary people in the constituency.
"I know this is an uphill task as my opponent (Sim), who is also the Local Government and Housing Minister probably has millions of funds and a strong government machinery.
"Although I have a lot of respect for him (Sim), I believe there is a need for a strong check and balance, constructive competition, which is important for democracy that would benefit the people," he said in a video posted on his Facebook page today.
Yii, who is also Bandar Kuching member of parliament (MP) claimed that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government intended to secure victory at all costs.
He claimed the state government even picked a time when the flight tickets back to Sarawak were expensive, which could see many Sarawakians not being able to afford to fly home to vote for the 12th Sarawak election this Dec 18.
"Thus, I hope as anak Sarawak, to have the chance to bring my passion, energy and voice to the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN), to introduce more new ideas, policies and solutions for the betterment of Batu Kawah as well as the whole of Sarawak," he said.
"May this be a healthy and mature competition as we bring Sarawak forward to the greatest height," he added.
Yii was among the DAP's new faces when he contested in the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018. He won the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat with a majority of 35,973 votes in a straight fight against Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Kho Teck Wan.
He was elected as the chairman of the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on health, science and innovation in January.
Yesterday, Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the party decided to field Yii in the Batu Kawah seat as his relevant knowledge, experience and expertise are much needed in Sarawak, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sim, from the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), wrested the Batu Kawah seat from the DAP after defeating incumbent Christina Chiew Wang See and independent candidate Liu Thian Leong in the 11th Sarawak state election in 2016.
He polled 6,414 votes to win by a majority of 2,085 votes. Chiew garnered 4,329 votes while Liu, 1,109 votes.