Lo Khere Chiang

Summary

Lo Khere Chiang is the SUPP assemblyman for Batu Kitang in Sarawak's State Legislative Assembly, first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2021, who previously served as Padawan Municipal Council chairman from at least 2010. He currently holds the post of SUPP deputy secretary-general and is a regular voice in the state assembly on Sarawak's constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. In GE15 (2022), he contested the Stampin parliamentary seat for GPS but lost to DAP's Chong Chieng Jen.

Biography

Lo Khere Chiang is the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) assemblyman for Batu Kitang, a state constituency in Kuching that has been represented in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly since 2016 [1]. Lo first came to public prominence as chairman of the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), a post he held from at least June 2010 [2][3]. He contested the newly created Batu Kitang seat in the 2016 Sarawak state election under the Barisan Nasional–SUPP ticket and won, becoming the seat's inaugural assemblyman [4][5]. He retained the seat at the 12th Sarawak state election in December 2021, defending it under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)–SUPP banner against DAP, PSB, and PBK challengers [6]. Simultaneously, GPS nominated Lo to contest the Stampin parliamentary seat in the 15th general election (GE15) in November 2022, where he faced DAP incumbent Chong Chieng Jen in a three-cornered contest; Chong retained Stampin with a majority of 7,158 votes [7]. Lo continues to serve as Batu Kitang assemblyman and holds the party office of SUPP deputy secretary-general [8][9]. He is an active participant in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, regularly speaking on matters relating to Sarawak's constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the relationship between the Sarawak state legislature and the federal government.

Known for

Lo Khere Chiang is known as a consistent advocate for Sarawak's constitutional autonomy under MA63, arguing that the state legislature's decisions should not require federal endorsement. He served as Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman for an extended period before transitioning to elected office. Within SUPP, he serves as deputy secretary-general and is the Batu Kitang branch chairman.

Political positions

Lo has consistently articulated a Sarawak-first position, arguing that voting for peninsular-based parties weakens the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly's ability to defend the state's rights [10][11]. On MA63, he has maintained that the state assembly's decisions — such as the proposal to expand the assembly from 82 to 99 seats — are not subject to federal approval or rejection, as the state legislature is the highest lawmaking body in Sarawak [8][9]. He has also proposed that Sarawak develop its own oil refinery to reduce raw crude outflows, increase state revenue, and create skilled jobs, citing Singapore as a model [8][12][13]. On the issue of Sarawak's representation in Parliament, Lo has argued for sending more Sarawak parliamentarians to Dewan Rakyat to demand rights enshrined under MA63 [10][14].

Before politics

1. June 2010Newly appointed as chairman of the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), urging residents to pay assessment rates and outlining the council's infrastructure priorities.⛓
2. July 2010As MPP chairman, initiated a council-wide inventory exercise to account for all projects, maintenance obligations, and assets under the Padawan Municipal Council.⛓
3. November 2012Featured in a profile as MPP chairman in The Star.⛓
4. August 2013As MPP chairman, reported on growth in council-area properties from 20,894 units in 1996 to 65,355, reflecting rapid urbanisation in the Padawan area.⛓

Political career

1. May 2016Contested and won the Batu Kitang state seat in the 11th Sarawak state election under BN-SUPP, becoming the seat's inaugural assemblyman. Batu Kitang was a newly created constituency in the 2015 redistribution.⛓
2. December 2021Re-elected for Batu Kitang under GPS-SUPP in the 12th Sarawak state election, defending the seat against DAP, PSB, and PBK challengers.⛓
3. November 2022Contested the Stampin parliamentary seat (GE15) for GPS-SUPP as a first-time parliamentary candidate, losing to DAP incumbent Chong Chieng Jen, who won with a majority of 7,158 votes.⛓
4. July 2025Debated the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Membership) Bill 2025 in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, supporting the proposal to expand state seats from 82 to 99 and accusing the opposition of opposing Sarawak's efforts to expand parliamentary representation.⛓
5. July 2026Called on the federal government to respect Sarawak's MA63 rights by tabling in Parliament the state assembly's decision to add 17 seats, stating that the state legislature's decision is not subject to federal approval.⛓

Election history

• 2022Stampin (Parliament)Lost⛓
• 2021Batu Kitang (State)Won⛓
• 2016Batu Kitang (State)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• OppositionDAP's Chong Chieng Jen criticised Lo for simultaneously holding the posts of MPP chairman, Batu Kitang assemblyman, and contesting the Stampin parliamentary seat in GE15, questioning whether Lo would have sufficient time to fulfil all roles. Chong also accused Lo of misrepresenting the opposition's position during the state assembly debate on the seat expansion bill in July 2025.⛓
• VerifiedFactsBernama's official GPS candidate list for the 12th Sarawak election confirms Lo Khere Chiang as the SUPP candidate for Batu Kitang in 2021. NST's live GE15 results confirm Chong Chieng Jen won Stampin with a majority of 7,158, confirming Lo's loss in GE15 2022.⛓
• GovernmentGPS nominated Lo as one of its 31 GE15 candidates in November 2022, with GPS chairman Abang Johari Tun Openg stating candidates were chosen based on experience and a mix of age profiles. Lo was described as one of the state assemblymen chosen to contest in the general election.⛓