KUCHING – The Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak has endorsed plans to contest seven state constituencies in the Kuching and Bau areas in the coming Sarawak election, while keeping Batu Lintang under consideration as a possible additional seat.
DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen announced the decision following a state committee meeting on Sunday, 1 November 2026. The seven constituencies endorsed for the party’s electoral contest are Padungan, Pending, Batu Kitang, Kota Sentosa, Batu Kawah, Tasik Biru and Opar.
Chong said five of the constituencies were located in the Kuching area, namely Padungan, Pending, Batu Kitang, Kota Sentosa and Batu Kawah. The party was separately assessing whether to enter the contest in Batu Lintang.
Speaking at a press conference at DAP headquarters in Kuching, he said the party had already established its initial electoral direction for the area, although discussions on the possible eighth seat were still ongoing.
Decisions involving constituencies in other parts of Sarawak, including Sibu, Sarikei, Bintulu and Miri, are expected to be announced separately within the next one to two weeks.
On the inclusion of Tasik Biru and Opar, Chong confirmed that the state committee had formally endorsed DAP’s intention to contest both constituencies. His clarification came amid reports that Mas Gading Member of Parliament Mordi Bimol had expressed interest in contesting Tasik Biru.
However, Chong said the question of candidates had not yet been settled. He indicated that the party would make announcements at a later stage, when the selection process for individual constituencies becomes clearer.
DAP’s electoral preparations come as the party seeks to increase opposition representation in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN). Chong said the party intended to provide stronger checks and balances on Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which held a dominant majority in the 82-member assembly during the previous term.
He argued that opposition participation was an important component of parliamentary democracy and said DAP hoped to secure more seats to strengthen alternative representation in the state legislature.
The party held two seats during the previous term and is now seeking to expand its presence in the assembly through the coming election.
Chong also addressed the possibility of political cooperation with Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), saying the two parties shared common ground and had a common political opponent. However, he stressed that discussions were still required before any formal arrangement could be confirmed.
A meeting with the PBDS president is expected to form part of the discussions. Chong indicated that the shared interests between the parties could provide a basis for cooperation, although no final agreement had been reached.
Meanwhile, the position of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) within the wider Pakatan Harapan (PH) election preparations remains unresolved. Chong, who also chairs PH Sarawak, said PKR had yet to communicate a final decision on whether it would contest in the coming state election.
He said the matter was awaiting a decision from PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. In the meantime, DAP had chosen to proceed with its own electoral planning rather than delay preparations while waiting for PKR’s position.
The latest announcement outlines DAP’s initial electoral strategy in Kuching and Bau, while leaving room for further decisions on Batu Lintang, candidate selections and possible cooperation with other political parties.
Further announcements over the coming weeks are expected to provide a clearer picture of the party’s intended coverage across Sarawak ahead of the state election. â Sarawak Daily
