Media Statement 
by Sabah DAP Gaya by-election committee chairperson & Party International Secretary, Teresa Kok 
in Petaling Jaya 
on Friday, 27^th September 2002

The DAP names Hiew King Cheu as its candidate for the upcoming Gaya by-election 

The DAP Central Working Committee (CWC) had during its meeting on 25^th September decided the following: 

• The party will contest the upcoming by-election for the Gaya parliamentary seat; and 

• DAP Kota Kinabalu branch chairman Dr. Hiew King Cheu will be the party candidate for the seat.

The by-election will be overseed by me, the CEC menber who in charged of Sabah DAP. The party believes that Hiew is a suitable and capable candidate to contest the Gaya seat. Hiew, 50, is a resident of Kota Kinabaluwho is familiar with the needs and problems of the local community. He is married with three children. 

Hiew obtained his degree in Building Technology & Management from Brighton Polytechnic, UK in 1978. He successfully pursued his postgraduate studies, obtaining an MBA from Northwestern International University before achieving his doctorate in Science from the College of Business Administration, Inter-American University. 

Besides his high academic qualifications, Hiew has a commendable record of social and societal involvement. He was the former vice-president of the Sabah Tai Poh Community Association. Hiew is particularly active at the school level, where he was a member of the management board as well as former PTA chairman of both SJK(C) Yick Nam, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu as well as Shan Tao Secondary School, Kota Kinabalu.    

We hope that Keadilan will not step in to contest the seat. Although it had indicated its intention of contesting the seat, we hope that it will reconsider its decision so that a three-corner fight could be averted, especially as the party had already contested in the Likas by-election recently. This is important to ensure a straight fight between the Opposition and Barisan Nasional to avoid the splitting of votes. 

Besides, there is a legitimate expectation from the people of Sabah for the DAP to contest to fill the vacuum created by PBS’ return to Barisan Nasional. We believe in this regard that the DAP can help fulfill the aspirations of Sabahans for an Opposition representative in Parliament.