Kota Kinabalu, Monday, 10 November 2025:
The move by former Luyang Assemblyman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe to contest in Likas exposes DAP’s weaknesses and neglect. Instead of strengthening service where he was elected, Phoong has chosen to abandon Luyang, a constituency still waiting for meaningful progress. Now, he turns to Likas, which has also suffered years of neglect under DAP’s absentee representatives since the party first won the seat in 2013. It is believed that Phoong, as DAP’s Sabah Chief, was directed by the party’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to “save” Likas for DAP.
DAP’s first Likas Assemblyman, Datuk Junz Wong, was elected in 2013 but defected to Warisan mid term. He later shifted to Tanjung Aru because DAP’s Datuk Chan Foong Hing insisted that Likas belonged to DAP. At the time, DAP and Warisan contested together in both the 2018 and 2020 elections.
A different DAP representative was then elected for Likas. While he is personally a good individual, many residents cannot recall his name. During my visits to Signal Hill and other residential areas, I met residents who did not know the name of their own assemblyman and had never seen him. That is the unfortunate reality of DAP’s absentee representatives.
Even government officers have confused former Likas Assemblyman, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, for the Likas assemblyman. During a Legislative Assembly sitting where Yong had served as a Nominated Assemblyman, an Assistant Minister addressed Yong as the “YB Likas”. This shows how unfamiliar the DAP representative was, even among government circles.
“Vote party, not candidate” leads to absent leaders
This situation exposes DAP’s failure. Their slogan “vote party, not candidate” urging voters to support the party rather than the candidate has created complacent leaders who believe they do not need to be on the ground to serve the people.
DAP inspected the wrong flood pumps
The people of KK must move beyond the days when our KK MP and Likas assemblyman checked the wrong flood pumps during the severe floods on 14 and 15 September. They visited a pump house still under construction instead of the existing pumps and floodgates that had broken down.
Warisan now also campaigning with “vote party, not candidate” slogan
Warisan has now adopted the same message. But after elections, how are local constituents expected to reach leaders like Anthony Loke or Shafie Apdal? People naturally turn to their local representatives.
SAPP sticks to sincerity and consistent service
SAPP culture has always been based on sincerity and consistent service. In Luyang, Gee Tien Siong has served tirelessly and stayed close to the community despite having very limited government resources. Meanwhile, the MP for Kota Kinabalu and DAP assemblymen in Luyang and Likas are believed to receive annual constituency allocations of RM3 million each, possibly RM4 million in 2025.
When SAPP regains the mandate in Likas, a committed and hardworking team led by Yong Yit Jee will once again serve and stand with the people of Likas.
Chin Vui Kai
Chairman of SAPP Likas Constituency Liason Committee (CLC)
SAPP Information Chief