Yong, a former one-term assemblyman, has been at the helm of Kuching SUPP for 23 years and used to be a vice-president of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak component.

Tay launched his SUPP election campaign today, seeking to inject fresh leadership and revitalise the division, which last won the Bandar Kuching parliamentary seat in 1999.

He said a change in leadership could help SUPP reclaim Bandar Kuching as well as the Padungan state seat, which it last won in 2001 through Yong, The Borneo Post reported.

Tay’s main goals include getting the division more involved in political matters, enlarging its community service efforts and promoting cohesion within the division’s grassroots.

“This election is a new starting point, a chance to restore confidence and unity.

“We aim to work together to achieve reform and progress with innovative thinking and practical actions to win the people’s trust and support,” he was quoted as saying.

Yong failed to defend her Padungan seat in the 2006 state election after losing to PKR’s Dominique Ng. The seat was later won by DAP in 2011 and has been in its hands since then.

Yong retained her division chief post uncontested in 2022, despite being referred to SUPP’s disciplinary committee for dissolving its election machinery for the Padungan seat during the 2021 state polls.

She had done so in protest of GPS naming Kuching South mayor Wee Hong Seng as the coalition’s candidate for the seat.

Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen went on to defend the seat for his party with a 1,198-vote majority against Wee.