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MIRI – A new kid on the block with no public election experience, and yet he has been entrusted with the task of winning for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) the Miri parliamentary seat last occupied by the opposition.
Miri city councillor Jeffery Phang of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) says he is raring and prepared for the battle over the constituency with the largest voter size in Sarawak.
“Whether as a councillor or a candidate for GPS, my objective has always been to be of service to the people,” he said in an interview with The Vibes.
“My concern is to try to improve the living conditions in Miri.”
“I believe that I can do even more on the GPS-SUPP platform if elected as MP.”
An architect and property consultant by profession, Phang has held numerous posts in the Miri City Council for some twenty years.
At age 48, he is also the SUPP secretary for the Senadin branch.
Phang said he will make known his personal manifestos during the campaign period after nominations for the 15th general election (GE15) take place this Saturday.
Incidentally, Phang will take on his former mayor Datuk Lawrence Lai, who is the candidate for opposition Parti Sarawak Bersatu, and Chiew Choon Man of PKR, who will represent Pakatan Harapan.
Phang received his letter of candidacy from GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg this morning.
He had been on such daily pre-election rounds for the past two weeks already.
Miri has some 143,000 voters based on the latest Election Commission data.
“There is an increase of about 57,000 Miri voters this GE15 compared to the election in 2018,” he said.
“That is a big increase, with mostly young and first-time adult voters from the automatically registered voters list,” Phang said.
Miri has been under opposition control for the past two general elections, with Dr Michael Teo of PKR winning since 2013.
Dr Teo was dropped suddenly on Tuesday by party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who recently visited Miri. – The Vibes, November 3, 2022