POPULAR MAN: Yong (right) receives Chinese New Year greetings from visitors from the Indian community in Kuching at his Chinese New Year open house on Sunday.
KUCHING: Five term Stampin MP Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, 71, described the Chinese New Year (CNY) open house he hosted this year as the final one he would hold as an active politician.
Speaking to reporters last Sunday, he said he would not change his mind about stepping down in the coming general election even if Barisan Nasional (BN) and SUPP top leadership were to ask him not to do so.
He also half jokingly told reporters and some of those present that he was holding the last CNY open house as a YB (honourable elected representative) for them.
“I have said many times that I would not seek re-election and I would not change this stand.
“I am making way for a younger person to take over, and the party must go through this process,” he said.
Yong, once a vice-president in SUPP, has been holding the Stampin seat since 1990. He was appointed deputy minister of works in 2008, after several years serving as parliamentary secretary in the same ministry.
SUPP has nominated its Youth wing’s secretary-general Wilfred Yap as the candidate for Stampin. However, talks have it that Yong is still in the running to defend the seat, and other names are being considered ,including Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lo Khere Chiang.
Asked for his advice to his successor, he said anyone serving as member of Parliament for Stampin should be humble, a good listener and willing to work with the people.
He also said he would give his full support to the BN candidate chosen to replace him, and asserted that it was not impossible for BN to retain the seat.
“In politics, anything can happen. We can achieve victory if all BN components work together,” he said, when asked to comment on BN’s chances to win amidst growing support for the opposition in urban areas.
Meanwhile, guests at Yong’s open house included Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Others were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and several state ministers.
sumber:theborneopost
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