KOTA KINABALU: Dr Ritchie Jay Cheng is among five Gagasan Rakyat leaders who have left the party to contest as independent candidates in the nine-cornered race for theTanjung Aru seat in the upcoming Sabah State Legislative Assembly election.
He said the decision came after assessing the party’s political direction, which he claimed no longer aligned with his principles and personal integrity.
“I do not want to be part of a system that forces me to prioritise the party over the people. If my principles are compromised, I would rather stand on my own,” he said.
He stressed that his decision to run independently was driven by the desire to offer a political platform free from pressure and grounded in integrity and professional expertise.
He holds a Law degree from the University of London, a Postgraduate Diploma in Judicial and Syarie Practice, an MBA, and a PhD in Islamic Banking and Finance from Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
His experience as the Sabah Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association is seen to give him an added edge in engaging Muslim communities, providing broader insight into social needs and community cohesion.
His vision for Tanjung Aru focuses on three key agendas: empowering youth, driving the blue economy, and creating job opportunities through strategic collaboration with the private sector and educational institutions.
“Tanjung Aru is full of exceptional young talent. They need real platforms to grow, not seasonal promises,” he said.
He emphasised that his status as an independent candidate gives him the freedom to work with any party without compromising the interests of the people.
“I am not bound by party directives. I am bound only by the trust of the people,” he said.
