Sarawak Polls: Dr Sim, Dr Yii in four-cornered fight in Batu Kawah

His main challenger will be DAP's Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, who is also the Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament.

Batu Kawah returning officer Ita Ling also announced that the other two candidates are Chai Kueh Khun of Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) and Fong Pau Teck of Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (Aspirasi).

"I have checked the nomination papers and am satisfied. No nomination papers were rejected," she said.

Dr Sim handed in his nomination form at the Padawan Municipal Council Hall near here at 9 am sharp, followed by Dr Yii at 9.02 am, Chai at 9.03 am and Fong at 9.12 am.

At the 11th state election, Dr Sim obtained 6,414 votes to defeat Christina Chiew Wang See of DAP with a 2,085-majority and Independent candidate Liu Thian Leong.

Dr Sim hopes that campaigning would be held peacefully.

"I want to see a clean campaign because these days I am very sad to see a lot of abuse on social media and fake news. That is not our culture," he told reporters.

He added that he would focus his campaign strategy through social media, just like what he has been doing as the area's elected representative for the past five years.