KOTA KINABALU: Although the Sandakan parliamentary by-election is less than a week away, DAP knows that there is still a lot of explaining that needs to be done.
Luyang assemblyman Ginger Phoong Jin Zhe said that after the first week of campaigning in the by-election, DAP sees economic progress as the biggest concern among constituents they have engaged with.
“We want to let people know that we take their concerns seriously,” said Phoong, who is the campaign manager for DAP candidate Vivian Wong Shir Yee in the May 11 parliamentary by-election.
“It’s only one year since we formed the new government. We admit that there is unhappiness still. However, we are confident that we will see progress in the coming years before the term ends.
“We are doing our best to ensure that the economy will be improved and people’s livelihood will be better.”
Phoong said this of DAP, which is part of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition at the federal level, and the Parti Warisan Sabah-PH-Upko coalition in the state government.
Vivian is the daughter of Datuk Stephen Wong, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Sandakan, who died on March 28. Stephen won the seat in the 13th general election (GE13) in 2013 and successfully defended it in GE14 on May 9 last year.
“In order to make the constituency keep progressing, we have been campaigning to urge people to vote for the current government, in which DAP plays an important role in shaping a better economy.
“That’s what this campaign is all about... (to) continue the late Stephen’s legacy and bring on the ideal of reforms to make his dream happen in the remaining four years.
“The answer is simple: Vote for Vivian to pass on the legacy and bring new hope in shaping a dynamic Sandakan,” Phoong added.
The by-election will see a five-way contest pitting Vivian against former Batu Sapi MP Datuk Linda Tsen of Parti Bersatu Sabah and three independent hopefuls — Sulaiman Abdul Samat, Hamzah Abdullah and Chia Siew Yung.
Backing Tsen is Batu Sapi MCA chief Datuk Chew Kok Who, who said that over the last one week, concerns were raised about promises not fulfilled by the PH government.
“There are also grouses on the economy in Sandakan,” he said.
Chew said the constituency needs more tourism activities and there should be more downstream businesses as far as oil palm is concerned.