Tiong, together with some 5,000 supporters who came from as far as Ulu Suai, walked behind two horses from SPDP’s office in Parkcity Commercial Square to the nomination centre (Dewan Suarah) yesterday morning.

They arrived outside the centre about 9.20am where they merged with other supporters from PBB and SUPP.

Accompanied by his proposer, Jepak assemblyman Datuk Talip Zulpilip and seconder Dr Stephen Rundi (Kemena assemblyman), Tiong filed his nomination papers with Returning Officer Bujang Budin at 9.35am, five minutes after Lim filed hers.

Lim was proposed by state DAP deputy chairman, Chiew Chiu Sing (who is also Kidurong assemblyman) and seconded by Philip Hwa Tat.

The incumbent Bintulu MP, who is chief executive officer (CEO) of Wijaya Global Bhd based in Kuala Lumpur, is contesting the parliamentary seat for the third time.

He first contested and won in the Nov 29, 1999 general election beating Chiew Chiu Sing of the DAP by a majority of 1,400 votes. He garnered 15,681 votes while Chiew had 14,281.

In 2004 he defended his seat against DAP’s Chiew and SNAP’s Lau Hieng Kee and won with a majority of 11,267 after garnering 20,225 votes against Chiew’s 8,958 and Lau’s 2,583.

Born in Bintangor and married with four children, the SPDP treasurer-general was made a Justice of The Peace by Selangor Sultan in 1994 and awarded the ‘Dato’ title in 1996.

His ‘Datuk Seri’ title was awarded by the Sultan of Selangor in 2000, which made him the youngest politician (at 39 years old then) to receive such an honour.

He studied at Taikung primary school, SJK Chung Hua and Tung Hua in Sibu before furthering his studies at New Zealand’s Warnborough College from where he graduated with Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Political Science degrees.

Like Tiong, Lim is married. She has one son with her car-salesman husband Lau Kar Pin, based in Miri where Lim was born. Lim has been a resident of Bintulu for a long time.

“I am very new to politics, having joined the DAP early this month. But new or not, one has to begin sometime somewhere, right?” she said.

She wants her political debut to be seen as a stepping stone.

“There are many issues and land is just one of them. Then there is the aluminium smelter plant and public security here,” she said.

When asked about her voters, she said: “I think I better not comment on that for now.”

Lim studied at SJK Chung Hua Bintulu and SMK Bintulu before moving to Miri where she worked as an insurance agent.

She graduated as a computer programmer from Stamford College in Kuching.

Admitting that she is challenging a BN giant considering that Tiong is popular locally, she still said: “The people should know their rights.”

When announcing Tiong and Lim’s candidacy around 11.13am, Bujang said throughout the objection period between 10am and 11am there was no protest or objection from either candidate.