KUCHING, Nov 8 — Chong Chieng Jen has retained his post as Sarawak DAP chairman at the state opposition party’s election here today.

Piasau assemblyman Alan Ling was re-elected as secretary of the state committee.

Both Ling and Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP, won 93 out of the possible 94 votes at the convention to share the top spots among the 18 candidates vying for seats in the 15-member state committee.

Pending assemblyman Violet Yong Wui Wui and Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei secured 91 and 90 votes respectively to make it into the committee.

Kidurong state lawmaker Chiew Chiu Sing, who won 82 votes, was re-elected deputy chairman of the committee.

Three Dayak members of the party – Mas Gading branch chairman Mordi Bimol, dentist Dr Bob Baru Langub and Sri Aman branch chief Leon Jimat Donald – also made it to the committee.

Jimat and Pelawan assemblyman David Wong Kee Woan were elected vice chairmen of the state committee.

The surprise was the defeat of Meradong assemblyman Ting Tze Fui, who did not make it to the committee this time around.

She collected 67 votes and placed number 16 among the 18 candidates.

Speaking to reporters after the convention, Chong said it was the choice of the delegates that Ting was not elected into the committee.

“We have to accept this fact because we believe in democracy,” he said, adding that he has co-opted her into the committee as she is an elected representative.

On the election of Mordi, Jimat and Baru into the state committee, Chong said the delegates did not vote along racial lines.

“The delegates recognised that they have been working hard on the grounds by voting them into the state committee,” he said.

He said Mordi and Jimat have been with the party over the last five years and they have proved themselves to be dedicated, loyal and hardworking members.

“This is the good thing about the DAP. We do not vote along racial lines, but how much is your contribution to the party,” he said.

Chong, who also the Kota assemblyman, also announced the appointment of native customary rights (NCR) land lawyer Paul Raja as head of the newly formed NCR land bureau.

Raja was among the 12 Dayak intellectuals who joined the DAP last week.

He said the creation of the NCR Land Bureau will deal with many issues concerning the NCR land among the Dayak community.