KUCHING: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Chong Cheng Jen has retained the Stampin parliamentary seats with a majority of 7,158 votes.
Chong, 51, who is Sarawak DAP chairman, won a three-cornered fight against Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate Lo Khere Chiang and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) Lue Cheng Hing.
He polled 39,310 votes while Lo received 32, 152 votes and Lue received 2,291 votes.
Soon after the result was announced, Chong thanked the voters who have put their trust in him once again.
“It was a tough battle, but I am very thankful for the overwhelming support by the voters,” he said.
He also thanked the party members who had been working hard during the campaign period.
He promised the voters who had given him the mandate that he would do his best in serving the constituency.
“We assure the voters that we will put the nation on the right track and to play our role to the fullest as members of Parliament (MP),” he said.
Chong noted that DAP has won five out of eight seats it contested in the state.
“This has defied the prediction made by political analysts that said we will lose the seats.
“However, at the end of the day, it was the power of the people that plays an important role in this election,” he added.
The percentage of voter turnout for the constituency was 61.6 percent.
In the previous general election (GE14), Chong won the seat defeating then Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
