Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP Chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe is involved in a six-cornered fight for the Likas seat.
Phoong, contesting under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) symbol, moved to Likas from Luyang, which he held for two terms.
He said he decided to move to Likas and give a chance to young people because he felt that the people of Sabah want change.
“They want change not in terms of who is the Chief Minister or the administration, but change in terms of a people’s representative who is competent, young, clean and ‘no video’,” said Phoong, who is former Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister.
He said they have a team that is truly sincere in serving and reflects the population of Sabah, as 53 per cent of the voters today are aged 40 and below.
“It means that more than half of the population may be 30 years or 20 years old, so we have to reflect this. The Sabah DAP team is ready to offer these two seats and give new hope,” said Phoong.
He is confident that his replacement in the Luyang seat, Chan Loong Wei, will form a good team together with him, even though some young voters “missed him.”
“In fact, this is not a change, this is an expansion because this will be a team that will combine the energy and resources to help Luyang and Likas. So if you vote for us, you are not just voting for the package,” he said.
He said if both of them win, they will form a team full of dedication and hope to serve both constituencies with greater than two representatives.
“We both can make a good team and we are ready.”
Given the short period of two weeks to woo the electorate, Phoong believes that his effort and work in Luyang, as well as his contributions in and around Kota Kinabalu, will help, as Luyang and Likas are just next door.
“I am not new in Likas. I started my kindergarten and primary school (SJKC Chung Hwa) and secondary school (Tshung Tsin Secondary School) in Likas, meaning I am very familiar with Likas and have a lot of fond memories there, so we are prepared.
“So I think people in Likas are familiar with me. And I can offer them a new experience, a new breath and the best services as I did in Luyang. And you can expect very good service and silent service from me and my team.”
Phoong said he will announce his manifesto in the coming days, which contains 10 points.
The other candidates for Likas are Yong Yit Jee (Sabah Progressive Party), Yong Yin Loong @ Louis (Parti Impian Sabah), Candy Chiew (Parti Bumi Kenyalang), Tham Yun Fook (Warisan) and Ku Yuk Cheong (Parti Kebangsaan Sabah).
