Five Independents join fray
‘We will be fully focused on our voters and their needs’
KOTA KINABALU: Five individuals want to contest as independents for urban and suburban state seats within the Kota Kinabalu district under a new pact, with the aim of providing an alternative to voting for parties.
Melanie Chia, SAPP’s former deputy president who quit the party recently, architect Sim Sie Hong, social activist Jan Chow Yee Fah, accountant Michelle Chin Ling Ling and digital application and software developer Achmad Noorasyrul Noortaip will work together under the Independent Candidate Alliance (ICA) to face the coming Sabah polls.
Chia intends to contest in Likas while Sim is vying for Api-Api, a hot seat held by incumbent Deputy Chief Minister and state PKR chairman Datuk Christina Liew.
Chow will be running in Tanjung Aru, Chin in Luyang and Achmad in Inanam.
“Recent events in Sabah leading to the call for snap election gave rise to uncertainty for a majority of the people in Sabah.
“Many were disappointed with the process of democracy and have expressed an intention not to vote and take part in the upcoming state election.
“The party-hopping has eroded the trust in politicians.
“But we cannot allow the trust in elected representatives to be destroyed, and rather than giving up the voting right, we feel a responsibility towards Sabah and therefore offer ourselves as an option to the voters,” said Chia when reading out the group’s joint statement during a press conference here yesterday.
Chia, who was Luyang assemblyman for two terms after winning in the 2004 and 2008 elections, said they were optimistic about the changing political landscape paving the way for an awareness on roles that could be played by independents.
“In the last election (GE14), many people voted and entrusted their right in parties and elected representatives they did not fully know because the emotion then was geared towards changing the government.
“While there was still a feeling of distrust in independents joining a political party in power later, we can see examples of independents around the world who remain steadfast with their status – it will be the same with us five.
“We hope this pledge will resonate with other independent candidates around Sabah,” the group said.
They added that they were prepared to work with other independent candidates who shared their aspirations for the common good of all in Sabah.
On the benefits of choosing an independent candidate, Chia said it meant they were only answerable to their voters and could fully focus on their respective constituencies, without wasting time on party politicking.
On how they were planning to face the polls, she said all of them were creating a synergy with their varying experiences and backgrounds, with no one being a dictating leader and everyone an equal partner under the alliance.
Asked whether they would hold the pledge to not join any party after the election ended and they won seats, Chia said: “If we are needed for the numbers to form the state government, we will consider the manifesto and objectives of the party involved and see which one is the most aligned with ICA’s aspirations.
“The government can be formed in alliance and we do not need to join any party.”