SANDAKAN: Vivian Wong Shir Yee, the newly-announced Pakatan Harapan candidate for the Sandakan by-election, hopes to advance the district’s economy via the tourism sector as well as improve public facilities, education and housing.
Wong, 30, who has a Bachelor’s degree in public relations from Murdoch University in Western Australia, is the youngest child of the late Sandakan member of parliament Datuk Stephen Wong.
Speaking after the announcement of her candidacy by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal here, the Sandakan-born candidate said she relates to the problems faced by the locals.
She said the people have been waiting for the extension of the Sandakan Airport, which is expected to be implemented this year to improve air services that would help the local economy.
"Upgrading tourist attractions is my priority besides focusing on other infrastructures such as hospital, colleges at the education hub and housing programmes.
"I was born in Sandakan, I received my education in Sandakan. Since young, I experienced blackouts at night during which I had to use candles to light up the space,” she said, adding that stabilising the power delivery system will be done to address the issue.
As a special officer to her father, who was the state Health and People’s Well-being Minister, Wong said she always went down to the ground to understand people’s problems regardless of their background.
“I believe with the support and full cooperation (from the people), Sandakan can be developed and revived as a more dynamic town,” she said.
Wong became involved in politics with her father since 2012. She was a financial consultant in Kuala Lumpur and a teacher at the International Korean School of Malaysia in Cyberjaya.
In the by-election on May 11, she will be contesting under the DAP banner.