Two leaders from two nemesis parties are fighting it out in Stampin.Chong Chieng Jen(Democratic Action Party ), state Assemblyman for Sentosa who is also the Chairman of Sarawak Pakatan Harapan, will tussle with President of Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP-BN), Datuk Dr. Sim Kui Hian, the Minister for Local Government and Housing. Sim, who is also the State Assemblyman for Batu Kawa.

Both state seats of Batu Kawa and Sentosa falls under Stampin constituency including Batu Kitang which is under SUPP Lo Khere Chiang. Chong is a three-term State Assemblyman for Sentosa and a three-term MP for Kuching.

In the 2013 general election, Julian Tan(DAP) defeated SUPP’s Yong Khoon Seng in Stampin with a majority of 18,670 votes in a constituency of 84,732 voters.

Chong won Bandar Kuching that year with a majority of 19,642 votes over SUPP’s Tan Kai.

With over 3500 supporters armed with banners, flags, hailers and cardboard wordings showing their support to Dr. Sim, it was like a huge party that has descended on the street infront of MPP. The row of coffee shops was coated with a sea of supporters in yellow clothes, the signature color of SUPP and a symbol of bees.

Dr Sim arrived at 8.10 am to cheers and whistles and shouts of “hu-ha” the warrior cry of the Ibans.

At 9 am, both the candidates and their families went to the MPP foyer where there was courteous handshakes. Chong went into the nomination centre first with his proposer Ku An Fah and seconder, Tan Kay Chee.

At 9.07 am, Dr. Sim proposer, Lo Khere Chiang and Seconder Wilfred Yap, handed in his nomination papers.  The nomination was closed at 10 am followed by an hour wait for any objections.

At 11.15 am, Returning officer, Elizabeth Loh announced the candidates – Dr. Sim was No 1 and Chong No 2.