Phoong aims to be ‘a minister you can be proud of’

KOTA KINABALU: Newlyappointed Youth and Sports Minister Ginger Phoong Jin Zhe will not waste time celebrating his appointment as he has already set his sights on coming up with new policies and ideas for his ministry.

“I will not waste time. I will start working now. I will be meeting with some of the youth organisations as well as my own team. I will not just sit here and wait for the swearing-in ceremony,” he said.

“There is no time for honeymoon and celebration. It has been one year since the government has been formed and I need to immediately take over and I need to understand the ministry as soon as possible so that I can implement and suggest policies that would benefit the youth,” said the Luyang assemblyman at a press conference yesterday.

“There is no need to put up big advertisements for me. I need everyone that has ideas and feedback, especially the young people, to write to me. I wish to hear from you so that I can perform better – to be a minister that you can be proud of and to be a minister for all (of the people)” he added.

Earlier yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal announced that Phoong would be taking over from Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung as Youth and Sports Ministry as the latter has been appointed as the new Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister, a post that was previously held by the late Datuk Stephen Wong; he also said that Sabah DAP treasurer Loh Ee Eng would be the new nominated assemblyman.

All three of them will be sworn in on Tuesday.

When asked about his immediate plans for the ministry, Phoong said that he was seeking to upgrade the sports facilities at the various residential areas around the state.

“For instance, we can set up gym facilities at each neighbourhood so that any residents living nearby would no longer need to travel so far just to go for a jog (or any kind of training),” he said.

The 30-year-old has also expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister and his party, Democratic Action Party (DAP).

“I am humbled and honoured to be appointed by the Chief Minister as the new Youth and Sports Minister. I am very thankful for the trust and confidence in myself.

“I would also like to thank my party, DAP, and my leaders, especially Lim Guan Eng, Lim Kit Siang as well as Sabah DAP’s acting-chairman Datuk Frankie Poon and secretary Chan Foong Hin,” said Phoong.

He admitted that he felt burdened as he only has four years (pending the next election) to bring changes to his ministry, especially with regard to the needs of the youths.

Phoong, who is the current Sabah DAP publicity secretary, has been a member of DAP Sabah since January 2012; he contested for the Luyang state seat in the 14th General Elections (GE14) and eventually won with a majority of 12, 408 votes.

He is the youngest minister in the current State Cabinet.