BY GABRIEL LIHAN & ALEXANDRA LORNA
KUCHING : Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate for Bandar Kuching, Eric Tay Tze Kok is hopeful and ready to take up the challenge to win back the seat from Democratic Action Party (DAP) candidate Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen in this 15th general election (GE15).
According to Tay, he looks forward to face battle against incumbent Dr Yii and hopes that the public will vote for him.
He will face a three-cornered fight against Dr Yii and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PBS) candidate Voon Lee Shan.
“I express my gratitude for being selected to be the candidate for P195 and indeed it is an honour and a responsibility to take up the challenge.
“For the past 18 years or so Bandar Kuching has been represented by DAP, so it is an uphill battle for GPS”, he said.
He told reporters this after the announcement on the candidates was made by Election Commission (EC) returning officer Zainab Marzali at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Community Hall here yesterday.
Tay, who joined politics in 2005 as the SUPP Kuching Youth chief, will be making his debut contesting in this GE15.
He added that the GPS leadership’s bid to regain the state’s autonomy and rights eroded in the past 59 years under Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is indeed challenging.
“If GPS manages to capture all the 31 seats, then we are in the best position to regain the eroded rights and autonomy”, he added.
Tay also pledged to get more funds and allocation from the federal government while pursuing the people first policy if he is elected as the MP for Bandar Kuching.
In addition to that, he pointed out that in the coming weeks, he would need the help of everyone to support him including the young and women voters.
“I will be announcing my manifesto next week and my priorities will include our youth and women as well.
“I hope the people will give me an opportunity for the people of Sarawak, people in Bandar Kuching especially in parliament and I will speak for you”, he said.
In the last general election, Dr Yii won the seat in a straight fight against Kho Teck Wan from Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) with a convincing 35,973 majority.
