‘Rich boyfriend’ Luyang needs better rep, says BN

Sabah MCA Wanita leader wants to contest state seat in Sabah's capital, saying area needs someone who can think out of the box.

Sabah MCA Wanita deputy chief Dr Pamela Yong (in yellow T-shirt) with visitors during a health screening at the MCA community service unit in Luyang recently.

KOTA KINABALU: The likely Barisan Nasional candidate for Luyang likens the Sabah state seat to “a rich boyfriend” who already has everything, saying one must think out of the box to add to the development in the area.

Sabah MCA Wanita deputy chief Dr Pamela Yong said it would not be an easy task to develop Luyang, which she said is already almost developed to the brim and is densely populated.

“Like a rich boyfriend, when it comes to his birthday, what do you buy for him?

“That is why the elected representative must think of something different to add to what Luyang already has.

“One must be able to think outside the box in order to effectively develop the area,” she said of the seat which comes under the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary constituency.

Dr Pamela Yong is an orthodontist.

However, Yong, who is an orthodontist, also called for Luyang residents not to be content with having a mediocre suburban area but instead strive to be a suburb that is the envy of the people.

“I can bring in value-added services and facilities. For instance, we can look at the green agenda by having electric buses to take residents between the housing areas and shops.

“If you ask the youths in Luyang, they will tell you there’s not much for them because there are basically a lot of kopitiams (coffeeshops).

“We can build a hub, have all the trendy cafes and WiFi there but also create a youth centre at the same time where youngsters can get career advice and skills training as well,” she said.

On BN’s chances in Luyang, Yong sees an interesting battle in the offing.

She is confident the ruling coalition has a good chance to win the seat which her mother, Agnes Shim Tshin Nyuk, the Sabah MCA Wanita chief, lost in the last election in 2013.

Shim lost in a four-cornered fight to Hiew King Cheu, who contested under a DAP ticket then, by a 8,676-vote majority. Hiew later joined MCA after a falling out with DAP in 2014.

“Nobody said it’s going to be easy but if the people do not vote based on emotions, we stand a pretty good chance.

“There tends to be an effort to demonise MCA or BN and at the same time idolise the opposition. But I don’t believe the opposition is the solution,” she said.

While the defeat in 2013 was a blow, it did not, however, stop the party from serving the people, Yong added.

“The next day (after the defeat), we were on the ground again. We are not just here during the elections.

“So I think if people really think of voting for a capable candidate, then I think we have a good chance of winning,” she said.

Yong said she would promote a greater sense of civic responsibility among the constituents in Luyang.

“If there’s a hole or streetlight that needs fixing, they will know which government agencies to call. This will allow the Luyang rep to do so much more.”

Party sources said the incumbent, Hiew, was previously in contention to be a candidate but it has emerged that Yong has now become the frontrunner to stand for the seat.

DAP had last week announced its Sabah publicity secretary, Phoong Jin Zhe, as the candidate for Luyang.

Gabungan Sabah is also said to be fielding a candidate for Luyang through one of its components, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), with the candidate rumoured to be its deputy president, Melanie Chia, who also contested the seat in the last election.

Parti Warisan Sabah will not contest the seat due to the electoral pact it has with Pakatan Harapan. - FMT