Independent candidates share views on shaping Sandakan
SANDAKAN: Sandakan should create novel attractions to spur tourism including strengthening its natural landscape, said one of the independent candidates of the upcoming by-election.
Chia Siew Yung said the constituency does not need tall modern buildings but original ideas that make it stand out for tourists.
“We should start by making it appealing as a nature city by beautifying Sandakan via landscaping such as planting trees with flowers.
“We can’t do what Kuala Lumpur does in terms of development as our population is small, so let’s do something unique,” he said.
He suggested revisiting a proposal he made previously – having a cable car ride from Pulau Berhala to connect to the mainland.
“It will be something unique to separate us from the rest,” he said at a public forum organised by Sabah Bersih 2.0.
Chia’s two fellow independent candidates, Hamzah Abdullah and Sulaiman Abdul Samat, also presented their aspirations for the constituency that will see a five-cornered fight.
Polling in this east coast Sabah town is this Saturday.
Chia also noted that the lack of infrastructure such as proper ports as well as stable water and electricity supplies must be overcome before plans for economic development and investors are considered.
He said if he won, he would remain neutral and become the people’s voice.
“If good government policies are introduced, I will support them,” he added.
Hamzah said it was a lost opportunity for federal ministers who had come last week during the campaign period to look at problems on the ground, as they “only focused on walkabouts and ceramah”.
For him, his struggles would include trying to solve the issue of documentation among Malaysians in Sabah as well as to highlight that the young people have migrated because there are not enough jobs here.
“The government has a responsibility to ensure Malaysians have jobs so that the youth will avoid being involved in social ills,” he said.
Sulaiman, meanwhile, reiterated that he will fight for affordable housing including planned coastal housing schemes which are “easier to implement”.
“The benefits of a coastal housing (water village) is that we do not need to follow strict specifications on how to build it.
“The government needs to provide settlements for the poor bumiputra,” he said.
Sabah Bersih 2.0 vice-chairperson Beverly Joeman said invitations for the forum were sent out to the candidates last week but DAP candidate Vivian Wong and PBS candidate Datuk Linda Tsen were unable to join due to their tight schedules.
“Personally, as a woman, I feel disappointed as we would have liked to hear the women candidates’ presentations and their way forward,” said Joeman.