SANDAKAN: With its strategic location and vibrant community, Karamunting has strong potential for tourism and SME growth, which can be realised once the constituency’s basic infrastructure gaps are finally resolved, says Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Chin Kim Hiung.
Chin, who has been making daily rounds in housing areas and villages over the past week, said many residents shared this optimism, but they want long-standing issues to be resolved first.
“It’s already 2025. We shouldn’t still be dealing with water cuts lasting days or frequent power outages,” he said when met here.
He said some areas experienced several days without water recently.
Chin said these problems must be treated as foundational before any larger development agenda can take off.
“Hotels, shops and small industries cannot plan anything when water cuts last several days or when the power supply is unstable.
“You cannot talk about tourism or bringing in investors when hotels and shops don’t even have water for four or five days. That is the reality on the ground.
“Before we talk about development, we must solve these basic issues once and for all first,” he added.
Chin said he has sought input from engineers and experts to understand the structural reasons behind these disruptions.
His focus is on solving the actual problems affecting the people here.
Improving education is also on his mind, especially for students from low income families.
He said MCA has Utar and TAR UMT, adding that the latter has a campus in Kota Kinabalu which offers accessible options for Sabah students.
“For underprivileged students, this is an important channel for tertiary education and social mobility,” he said.
He said more needs to be done to raise awareness, provide guidance and help students understand the opportunities available.
From his engagement with business operators, Chin said many local SMEs have raised concerns about rising operational pressures, including the looming transition to e-invoicing.
“SMEs are worried because they are not ready. They also face other burdens like compliance costs and wage pressures.
“We must support them so the local economy can grow,” he said.
Chin said if he wins, he would concentrate on fundamentals that can help bolster development.
These include fixing water supply issues, including pipeline upgrades and storage expansion; improving electricity reliability, especially in older residential areas; upgrading roads, particularly in villages and ageing townships; supporting SMEs, including easing compliance and helping businesses prepare for new systems like e-invoicing; and expanding education pathways by leveraging on MCA-linked institutions for local students.
Chin said Karamunting needs a representative who is consistently accessible and understands its issues.
“People want someone they can reach anytime. I grew up here and I understand the area.
“People know me and I listen to them. If we fix the basics, then Karamunting can finally enjoy the development it deserves,” he said.
On his promise to deliver, Chin has this to say to the voters: “If they think I failed to deliver after five years, then don’t vote for me again.”
