DAP today announced that it will contest 30 seats in the 11th Sarawak state election, and has named 29 of its candidates, with the candidate for Baleh seat to be announced on Saturday.

Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the last minute change in the candidate to be fielded for Baleh seat was due to the decision of Larry Sng Wei Shin to resign as Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) president last night.

Larry Sng, the former assemblyman for Pelagus, was supposed to contest the new state seat N63 Bukit Goram.

Following Larry Sng's decision, DAP decided to move its candidate for Baleh seat, Larry Anak Asap, to contest in Bukit Goram.

The party already has a potential candidate for Baleh, but will only announce it later, he told a press conference here today.

Chong said most of DAP's 29 candidates were new faces.

They were Mordi Anak Bimol (Tasik Biru), Wong King Wei (Padungan), Violet Yong Wui Wui (Pending), Chong Chieng Jen (Kota Sentosa), Chiew Wang See (Batu Kawah), Abdul Aziz Isa Bin Marindo (Stakan), Sanjan Anak Daik (Mambong), Andrew Nyabe (Kedup) and Edward Luak (Bukit Semuja).

Leon Jimat (Simanggang), Yong Siew Wei (Repok), Ting Tze Fui (Meradong), Rinda Juliza Anak Alexander (Pakan), Richard Anak Lias (Ngemah), Irene Mary Chang Oi (Bukit Assek), Yap Hoi Liong (Dudong), Chiew Sung Ngie (Bawang Assan), David Wong (Pelawan), Frankie Bendindang (Pelagus), Paren Anak Nyawi (Katibas).

Larry Anak Asap (Bukit Goram), Kenneth Adan Silek (Murum), Chiew Chiu Sing (Tanjong Batu), Leighton Manjah (Kemena), Baba Anak Emperan (Samalaju), Alan Ling Sie Kiong (Piasau), Dr Ting Tiong Choon (Pujut), Baru Langub (Senadin) and Paul Raja (Mulu).

He said of the total, six were women, and all of them were professionals, with four of them lawyers, one a professional nurse and the other, a chemist.

"I must admit that this time around, we will have some difficulties in the Chinese urban seats, because of Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem's popularity," he added.