“I’ve mellowed down,” the 32-year-old told FMT.

“In 2016, I was very fiery. I was young and I made mistakes. People make mistakes but the most important thing is that they change, and they should be given a chance if they change and improve.”

Five years ago, the firebrand stood out as one of the DAP’s more prominent candidates with his fervid speeches and vehement statements. He lost the Batu Kitang contest against Lo Khere Chiang of Barisan Nasional.

However, he became an aide to Chong Chieng Jen, who was deputy minister of domestic trade and consumer affairs in the Pakatan Harapan government. That experience taught him the value of sobriety because “people expected the party and its representatives to deliver”, he said.

He said he was now “definitely more mature, more equipped to serve” and would use “legalities, facts and logic” in his arguments instead of attacking his opponents.

Aziz speaks seven languages and dialects, including Mandarin, Hakka, Iban and Bidayuh. He said his effort to improve his command of Bidayuh had made him better able to connect with the community and serve them better.

Batu Kitang is a Chinese-majority seat but the Bidayuh make up a sizeable number of the 20,000-odd voters in the semi-urban constituency.

Aziz said a lot had changed since 2016, with the Bidayuh community swinging towards the opposition, a trend that was evident in the 14th general election when BN lost Puncak Borneo and Mas Gading to the opposition.

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), reborn from the ashes of Sarawak BN, has voiced concern about the eight Bidayuh-majority seats because of the swing in GE14.

He said the Bidayuh would be kingmakers in Batu Kitang and he was more confident this time around of winning their support.

In the Dec 18 polls, Aziz will be contesting against GPS’ Lo, Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s Liu Thian Leong and Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Wong Tun Teck.