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Pritchard Gumbaris, Chief of the Warisan branch in Kampung Kepayan, has taken to task Kepayan State Government’s Assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang for her lack of responsiveness in addressing basic infrastructure issues in her constituency. His remarks followed a road inspection in Beverly Hills conducted by Lasimbang alongside Luyang Assemblyman Ginger Phoong.
“We appreciate Pembinaan Kekal Mewah (PKM) for resurfacing the road, which had long been in poor condition,” said Pritchard. “It was overdue, and the work was necessary. But it shouldn’t take numerous public complaints and political drama for action to be taken.”
He noted growing confusion among residents about who actually represents Kepayan. “I’ve received a lot of feedback from the ground asking if Jannie Lasimbang is still the Assemblywoman for Kepayan or if Ginger Phoong is now playing a dual role by also taking charge here,” he added.
Pritchard expressed concern over what he called the Assemblywoman’s ineffective leadership. “She should have delegated this matter to her Community Development Leader (PPM), who should have coordinated with local authorities and submitted a proper report to initiate repairs. Yet, her PPM has been nowhere to be seen.”
He also questioned the need for such a large group of DAP staff from both Kepayan and Luyang to attend the inspection, suggesting it was more of a political stunt than genuine service. “For many residents, this feels like a gimmick, especially with the elections approaching. This is the first time in years we’ve seen them in the area.”
While acknowledging that if Lasimbang is in the opposition, it’s understable but Pritchard reminded that she is part of the Sabah state government. “As a sitting member of the District Action Committee, she has every opportunity to raise these issues monthly. One wonders what is actually discussed in those meetings if simple rectification works take so long.”
Pritchard further questioned Phoong’s increasingly visible role, noting that the Luyang Assemblyman had recently been seen inspecting Kota Kinabalu International Airport and now appears to be speaking on behalf of Kepayan’s ADUN.
He urged Jannie to ensure her PPMs from the UPPM office perform their duties more effectively. “Many areas in Kepayan still suffer from inadequate basic infrastructure—especially in terms of water, electricity, and roads. If she managed her team properly, there would be no need for others to step in, especially not her colleagues from neighboring constituencies.”
To better serve the people, Pritchard recommended regular town hall meetings and weekly community engagements.
“You can’t expect residents to always come to your office when problems arise,” he said. “You need to be out there, meeting the people. Leadership requires being proactive, not passive.”
Madam Ng’s situation is truly frustrating, and it’s disappointing to see such negligence from the Water Department. It’s baffling how a simple repair job could leave the pavement in such a state for months without any action. Pritchard and Theresa’s intervention is commendable, but it raises questions about why these issues aren’t addressed promptly in the first place. Cyril Liew’s concerns about DAP’s silence on corruption are valid and reflect a growing sentiment among the public. If DAP wants to regain trust, they need to be more vocal and proactive in addressing these allegations. The deterioration of basic infrastructure under the SMJ government is alarming, and it’s concerning that DAP seems to have lost their voice in holding them accountable. Why do you think DAP has remained silent on such critical issues, and what steps can be taken to ensure accountability and transparency moving forward?
Madam Ng’s situation is really frustrating, and it’s disappointing to see how long it’s taken for her complaint to even be acknowledged. It’s good that Pritchard and Theresa are stepping in, but why isn’t there a faster system in place to address such issues? The fact that no official report was filed earlier by UPPM Kepayan is concerning—where’s the accountability? Cyril Liew’s comments about DAP’s silence on corruption are also quite alarming. If the public is losing trust in the party, shouldn’t there be more transparency and action? I wonder if this silence is a sign of deeper issues within the administration. What do you think needs to change to restore public confidence?