But Kuching’s population does not reflect Sarawak’s overall demography with the Dayaks as the majority.

Residents here are mainly Chinese, so are 90% of voters in Bandar Kuching.

The seat was carved out in 1970, and has always been represented by a Chinese.

SUPP’s first president, the late Ong Kee Hui held the seat from 1970 to 1982.

And then it fell to DAP for the first time in the 1982 general election, when a young DAP candidate, Sim Kwang Yang, defeated Ong’s political secretary, Loke Yik Ping.

Sim became immensely popular after he became MP and is credited with the rise of DAP in Sarawak. During his three terms as Bandar Kuching MP from 1982 to 1995, he managed to attract many young people to DAP.

He had a strong following and recruited many professionals into the party, many of whom are still active in the party today.

Sim eventually took over as Sarawak DAP chairman from Chong Siew Chiang, a former SUPP state assemblyman, who was among the pioneers of Sarawak DAP.

Sim, who studied in Canada, became the DAP’s brightest star in Sarawak and even went on to defeat Ong’s successor as SUPP president, Stephen Yong, in the 1990 general election.

Yong was the DAP’s most prized scalp then, as he was also a federal minister. The SUPP president’s 1990 loss eventually forced him into retirement and he was succeeded by Dr Wong Soon Kai.

Personality

Sim’s humility, simple lifestyle, personal integrity and intelligence earned him much reverence and respect from the people.

Even some BN leaders have publicly acknowledged his excellent service as an elected representative.

But Sim, Loke, Yong and Wong have since passed on. SUPP managed to wrest back Bandar Kuching from the DAP in 1995 when the popular Kuching mayor then, Song Swee Guan, created an upset by defeating Sim.

Song won the seat again in 1999, but was forced to resign as MP after he was declared a bankrupt in early 2003.

In 2004, DAP managed to take back Bandar Kuching through Chong Chieng Jen, a young lawyer and son of Siew Chiang.

The junior Chong successfully defended the seat in the 2008 and 2013 elections.

Bandar Kuching has always been a tussle between DAP and SUPP.

The coming general election is expected to see the two arch rivals slug it out again for the prized seat in the state capital.

If the GE13 result is any indication, where Chieng Jen won by a huge majority of 19,642 votes over his SUPP opponent Tan Kai, one can expect a similar scenario in GE14.