DAP eyes Gen Z candidate, aims to field youngest team in Sarawak Election 2026

By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, Nov 13: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen has revealed that the party is planning to include Generation Z—also known as Gen Z—in its line-up of candidates for the coming Sarawak Election 2026.

Speaking at a media night here tonight, he said DAP hopes to field the youngest team of candidates among all political parties contesting the election, with the possibility of having a candidate born after the year 2000.

Chong, who is also Padungan incumbent, said the party believes young people should have a stronger voice in politics and government.

He said the views and opinions of young people, especially Gen Z, should not be represented only by politicians in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, and hopes to include at least one Gen Z candidate in the party’s line-up.

“Young people have their own views and perspectives on life, and how the government and country should be run,” he said.

He said the potential candidate was a woman who had shown some interest in politics but still needed encouragement and convincing, and stressed that no official announcement would be made until the candidate confirmed her willingness and readiness to contest.

Chong hoped that young voters, particularly those from Gen Z, would support the younger candidates and give them the confidence to take part in politics.

He said many young people tend to see politics as something meant for older generations, but this should change.

According to him, politics affects everyone, regardless of age, as government policies influence almost every part of daily life.

He pointed out that matters such as the working environment, living conditions, and even the prices of goods at grocery shops are affected by government policies.

“Nobody can escape government policies. No man is an island, and nobody can isolate themselves from the decisions made by the government,” he said.

Chong believes having younger candidates in the election will encourage more young people to take an interest in political matters and understand their role in shaping Sarawak’s future.

He added that the party was preparing for a busy election period and hoped voters would give its candidates a chance to serve.

Also present were Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin and Pending incumbent Violet Yong.

Gen Z are typically defined as people born from 1997 to 2012. — DayakDaily

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