KUCHING, Oct 21 — Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen today announced that candidates from his party will be contesting the 15th general election in the state under the party’s own logo instead of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition banner.

He said the state DAP has always had autonomy to determine which logo to use or the list of candidates. "We have made it very clear that we will contest in the general election using the rocket logo,” he told a news conference here.

Chong’s comment came after PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that all four PH component parties — PKR, DAP, Amanah, and Upko — would field their election candidates under the coalition logo for the November 19 vote.

The PH logo is of the word "Harapan” in white against a red background.

The state chapters of PKR and Amanah had recently said they would use the PH logo in Sarawak.

Chong, who is also the state PH chairman, said the list of the state DAP’s candidates is "more or less” finalised.

He said he will announce the DAP candidates for the central zone in Sibu tomorrow night, and for the southern zone of Sarawak on October 23.

Chong said the state DAP will field candidates in Mas Gading, Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Serian, Sarikei, Lanang, Bintulu and Sibu.

He said the party has decided to give way to the state PKR in Kapit. He said all the candidates are determined by the state DAP committee.

He said if the state DAP can retain the six seats — Mas Gading, Bandar Kuching, Stampin, Sarikei, Lanang and Sibu — there is a possibility that PH will form the next federal government.

Chong said the state PH will be having its own manifesto, in addition to the national PH manifesto.