KOTA KINABALU - It is an uphill battle for incumbent Luyang Assemblywoman, Melanie Chia Chui Ket who is defending her seat for the third term with the battle cry Bangunlah Untuk Sabah ( Rise up for Sabah).
The SAPP candidate is facing two giants – MCA and DAP – in terms of resources and money, and a fledgling party (Star) in the 13th General Election, but may have an edge by virtue of her proven track record in serving her constituents.
“I am a grassroots person. Although I resigned from the Government in September 2008 to be in the Opposition, I have not stopped serving the people within my capacity. The people can judge for themselves,” said Chia, a former Assistant Minister of Finance.
Melanie, no doubt, has been vocal in the State Legislative Assembly, raising pressing issues that affect the people’s lives. She won the Luyang seat with a majority of 1502 in the 2008 General Election.
Incumbent Member of Parliament for Kota Kinabalu, Dr Hiew King Cheu is the DAP candidate for Luyang.
With the party slogan Ubah- Vote for Change, he is confident of winning the State seat because of his long service which started even before he became an elected parliamentarian. Since 2008, he has been highlighting concerns related to Sabah, in parliament.
“I am an ex-MP and this is my area,”he said tersely.
Though a newcomer in the electoral fray, MCA candidate Datuk Agnes Shim Tshin Nyuk is no stranger to politics. She is banking on her political experience as a former Senator and record of services as a long-term social activist since the eighties.
The Sabah MCA Wanita Chief aspires to be an elected representative as a vehicle to serving the people better. Her rallying – point is Stability, People First.
“My involvement in community affairs has brought me into the political arena where I think I can do more things faster and more effectively, and tackle some of the difficult problems that need to be resolved. Without realising it, I have already laboured in society for 25 years,” she said.
Shim’s pet project is the annual free Health Screening for Women, a collaborative effort by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) Women Bureau, of which she is the Chief, and the Sabah Woman & Children Hospital, Likas.
In her pledge to the Luyang electorate contained in a letter of appeal, she said she would not only continue to serve the community as she has done all these years but would also help fulfil the promises made by Barisan Nasional (BN ) in its Election Manifesto.
“I will do so with particular focus on issues involving security, Luyang’s traffic congestion and parking shortage, problems faced by local schools, the area’s ineffective drainage system and the beautification of open spaces in Luyang and surrounding areas.
“In particular, I pledge to seek the green light from the State and Federal Governments to extend the Polyclinic network of healthcare accessibility to Luyang to further benefit the people there.
“I would also seek the construction of sheltered car parks as well as nurseries for infants in convenient locations so that working parents can work with a peace of mind, knowing that their infants are well-taken care of,” she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment