Kota kinabalu: DAP will contest eight seats in the 17th Sabah state election on Nov 29. DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke announced that the party will defend six state seats won in the 16th state election in 2020, namely Luyang, Kepayan, Likas, Tanjung Papat, Elopura, and Sri Tanjong. Additionally, the party will compete in Tanjung Aru for the first time, referred to as a non-safe seat, and another interior seat yet to be disclosed, with the candidate confirmed to be a woman.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anthony Loke highlighted ongoing discussions to avoid overlapping in the interior seat, affirming that DAP’s candidate will be a woman. He emphasized that all candidates are Sabah-born, dismissing concerns about the party not being a local entity. He noted that 50% of the candidates are women, with an average age of 39, presenting one of the youngest line-ups contesting the election. Loke expressed confidence in the candidates’ capacity to uphold and enhance the party’s success in Sabah.

Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, previously the incumbent for Luyang, will run in Likas, while state deputy chairman Datuk Chan Foong Hin, also Kota Kinabalu MP and Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister, will contest in Tanjung Aru. In Elopura, the party will field Sandakan MP and Sabah DAP secretary Vivian Wong Shir Yee, and its state vice-chairman, Datuk Jannie Lasimbang, will defend Kepayan.

The three new candidates include DAP Youth vice-chief Tang Szu Ching in Tanjung Papat, Sabah DAP Youth chief Chan Loong Wei in Luyang, and Sabah DAP committee member Philip Yap in Sri Tanjong. The Election Commission has scheduled Nov 15 as the nomination day for the Sabah state polls, with early voting on Nov 25 and polling day on Nov 29.