Jannie (centre), flanked by Teo (left) and Leng.
KOTA KINABALU (Nov 20): Kapayan incumbent Datuk Jannie Lasimbang today launched her manifesto, “Kapayan Haminku” (Kapayan My House), which highlights six core pillars.
They are youth development; empowering family and women’s economic participation; fostering knowledgeable communities; reducing the people’s burden through training, education and community facilities; promoting environmental preservation via recycling and river rehabilitation; and practising transparent, inclusive leadership that creates more opportunities for women and youth.
Speaking at a press conference today, Jannie said the success of her manifesto would require support from both the Sabah and federal governments.
“I believe RM1 million funding will be ample for some of the programmes that do not involve physical development,” said Jannie, who will be defending Kapayan as a Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate.
She emphasised that the manifesto places strong focus on youth and women’s development, noting that more than 50 per cent of voters in Kapayan are women, adding that the manifesto also targets youth, aiming to tackle unemployment in the area.
“In recent times, however, more youth have begun venturing into business and entrepreneurship,” she said.
Jannie expressed her eagerness to work closely with young people by providing capital, training and support through the Kapayan Youth Farm Programme.
She also announced plans to establish a Mini Youth Parliament to nurture leadership among Kapayan’s youth and to provide micro-grants of RM1,000 to RM3,000 for single mothers, youth and small entrepreneurs.
To help address the rising cost of living, she highlighted the Pink Bus service, initiated in collaboration with Pink Ribbon, which is currently operating in Kota Kinabalu.
Jannie plans to expand its route to Kapayan, benefiting senior citizens, single mothers and students.
The manifesto also includes a RM500 incentive for B40 students entering university.
“Usually, the focus is on students with excellent results. Now I wish to focus also on students who are going to university,” she said.
Also present at the press conference were DAP Women Chief Teo Nie Ching and DAP–PH Bandar Hilir assemblywoman Leng Chau Yen.
Teo said DAP leads in promoting female candidates for the upcoming Sabah election.
“Fifty per cent of our candidates are women. If you compare with other political parties, no one is close to us. Warisan has 73 candidates with nine women, which is 12 per cent.
“KDM (Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat) has 40 candidates with only two women. BN (Barisan Nasional) and GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) are also not doing too well in putting women candidates forward,” she said.
She added that women candidates bring unique strengths, better understanding the needs of women, children and families, and urged female voters in Kapayan to take this into consideration.
She also said that women participation in politics in Malaysia is still really low.
“I would like to urge the women voters in Sabah to support DAP because we are most consistent in women empowerment,” she said.
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