As the Padawan MP, Yong served as the federal science, technology and environment minister for eight years, taking over from his predecessor, Ong Kee Hui, both as minister and party president.
Yong decided to shift to Bandar Kuching during the 1990 general election to make way for his political secretary, Yong Khoon Seng, in Stampin.
The SUPP chief took the risk of contesting against DAP strongman Sim Kwang Yang and was defeated in Bandar Kuching, forcing him into retirement.
Khoon Seng, meanwhile, won Stampin for SUPP on his electoral debut and successfully defended it for three terms until GE13.
Stampin is on the periphery of Kuching City, with more than 70% Chinese among the total 58,111 voters. Malays and Dayaks comprise an equal 13% each.
The seat has been the battleground between SUPP and DAP since 1978. The coming GE14 will see the two parties locking horns there again.
Khoon Seng announced his retirement from politics just before GE13 but was coerced to defend Stampin for SUPP by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Najib announced in Kuching, just before GE13 polling day, that Khoon Seng would be made a full federal minister should he be successful in Stampin. He was only a deputy minister at that time.
But the Stampin voters had no desire to chew on Najib’s carrot.
Khoon Seng lost Stampin to DAP newcomer Julian Tan Kok Ping by 18,670 votes. After that defeat, Khoon Seng, already 72, retired permanently from politics.
In the coming GE14, DAP will field a new face as Julian Tan has confirmed he would be calling it a day in politics.
Stampin, even with its sizeable Chinese electorate, is still considered vulnerable for DAP in GE14 although the party thinks otherwise.
In the 2016 state elections, SUPP won two of the three state seats — Batu Kawah and Batu Kitang — in the Stampin parliamentary constituency.
New SUPP president Dr Sim Kui Hian wrested Batu Kawah from DAP while the newly-created Batu Kitang seat was won by SUPP’s first-timer Lo Khere Chiang.
The “Adenan factor” was said to have played a major role in SUPP’s gains in the 2016 Sarawak polls.
The late chief minister had won the support of the Chinese electorate with his more liberal and inclusive policies.
But this time, Adenan Satem is no longer around and it is not sure whether the Chinese in Stampin will still warm up to SUPP come GE14, as they did in 2016.
It is rumoured that DAP may swap Stampin with PKR for the Miri seat. Whether that happens or not, an unknown opposition candidate may find the going tough against a SUPP veteran in Stampin.
Ultimately, a lot depends on PKR and DAP grassroots in Stampin being able to work together as leaders of both parties on the ground are said to be eyeing the seat.
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