KOTA KINABALU: Jannie Lasimbang has one mission before retiring – to find a capable younger person to continue her work as Kapayan assemblyman.
The 62-year-old politician, who won the seat on a DAP ticket, said she has been actively grooming potential successors, but hopes to make her final selection before the Sabah state election due by October next year.
Setting health considerations aside, Lasimbang said she has accomplished much during her time as assemblyman and feels that “retiring now is good”.
Lasimbang was treated for breast cancer in 2021.
“I am looking forward to it (retirement). If I could get the right (candidate) for the coming state election, I would definitely give it to a younger person,” she said at a DAP fundraising dinner here on Sunday (April 28).
However, she said the final selection of candidates would be up to the party.
“Still, I feel it is crucial to have good people to maintain the seat and represent the people of Kepayan," she added.
She also suggested that Pakatan Harapan focuses on increasing representation within its ranks to meet the 30% target of women participation.
“To meet this target, Pakatan needs to groom more women as candidates (from now) so they will be more visible (by election time),” she said, adding that her party will be commencing a roadshow across the state to meet voters.
Sabah DAP intends to defend its six seats – Likas, Luyang, Kapayan, Tanjong Papat, Elopura and Sri Tanjong – in the next state polls.
