At a press conference, Pending candidate Yong said her number was “hijacked” yesterday, while Batu Kawah candidate Chiew had her number “stolen” today.

Fellow DAP member Wong King Fei suffered the same fate yesterday.

“I am receiving angry replies from strangers for apparently sending messages they do not understand,” Yong said, adding that she believed a majority of those who received the random text messages did not speak Chinese.
The Pending candidate, however, said she was not sure of the contents of the text message purportedly sent from her number.

She has suspended her phone number for the time being.

“I got a new SIM card for myself today. While I still receive texts from unknown numbers, it is fewer in number now.”

Yesterday, incumbent Padungan assemblyman Wong claimed his phone number was hijacked and used to send messages without his knowledge.

In a separate development, Bukit Bintang lawmaker Fong Kui Lun, who was also at the event, said he was only allowed to stay in Sarawak until Thursday.

“I arrived today. When I touched down in Kuching today, I was given a social visit pass until May 5.
“I was shocked. This is just too much from the state government.”

He added he had to fork out money to buy a new return ticket home as his original return ticket was scheduled for next Sunday.

Apart from Fong, DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng and PKR Deputy President Azmin Ali also had their stay in Sarawak shortened.