At the grassroots: Chung meeting a trader during a walkabout at a night market in Sandakan.
SANDAKAN: While political chats have largely centred on heavyweights such as Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan, a small but ambitious Sabah-based party, fielding candidates in 72 of the state’s 73 seats, is quietly working to make its mark.
Parti Impian Sabah (PIS), one of the newest entrants in the state’s packed electoral landscape, remains unfamiliar to many voters.
Its presence is modest, but the party is steadily drawing curiosity from Sabahans frustrated at longstanding issues with water, electricity and roads.
Formed in 2023 to widen the political space for new leaders, PIS brands itself as a clean-governance platform rooted in faith-based values and a culture of open leadership.
A policy often highlighted by its candidates is the automatic candidacy for division chiefs, which they say allows them to work early without internal competition for seats.
Among those taking that approach is Jeffrey Chung Cheong Yung, an entrepreneur contesting the state seat of Elopura (N55).
After 16 years in business, he said policy shortcomings convinced him to enter politics.
“I used to be like many young people who did not care about politics, but through business, I saw how important policy is,” he said when met during a walkabout at the Sandakan Sunday market.
He added that PIS appealed to him because it provides genuine opportunities for new leaders to contribute.
Chung has spent over a year on the ground meeting residents.
In Sandakan, it is not uncommon for people to recognise him from his vehicle, which bears a large sticker of his face or from calendars placed in coffee shops.
Yet many residents say they know little about the party he represents.
Chung believes the party’s requirement for candidates to take the Ikrar Bebas Rasuah pledge with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission gives it a credibility advantage.
In Sekong (N53), veteran politician Abada Atalad brings a different perspective after nearly 35 years in Umno.
He said he joined PIS because he wanted a more people-centred approach.
“In PIS, there is no greed for positions. The party is focused on fixing real issues like water, electricity and roads,” he said.
Abada said Sekong’s challenges are the result of inconsistent leadership and frequently interrupted projects.
“We should be enjoying better water, power and roads by now.
“But when leaders change, contractors change, and that is where leakages happen,” he said.
He also highlighted the vulnerability of squatter communities, noting that many still lack secure housing.
“We take care of people’s lives.
“We take care of their stomachs, not the stomachs of leaders,” he said.
Despite its wide push across the state, PIS faces a steep climb against well-established political machinery.
Even so, its candidates say they are encouraged by residents who are open to hearing from an alternative with a different political tone.
