KOTA KINABALU: Ousted DAP leader Jannie Lasimbang is not concerned that she is no longer Sabah Wanita DAP chief or that she is not a member of the new state party line-up as she is still a leader in the central executive committee.

       The Kapayan assemblyman said she was introduced to DAP and later joined the party to uphold the voices of the indigenous people, (orang asal), and the struggles of Sabahans, not for herself.

       “I entered politics to contribute towards a better Sabah. Despite not having been elected to the state committee during the recent Sabah DAP convention, I will not lose my vision and will uphold this struggle within DAP.

       “I believe my efforts and contribution to DAP as an Orang Asal representative is recognised, not only by the people but also by the leadership,” Lasimbang added.

       She is still a representative of the Sabah Native Consultative Committee under DAP’s highest body, which is the central executive committee.

       “So not being in the state committee does not mean I am unable to voice out the interests of my constituents or the Orang Asal of Sabah. I will continue to work hard to ensure that Sabah DAP is inclusive and gives equal opportunities to Orang Asal representatives,” Lasimbang added.

       However, she feels that the DAP leadership needs to seriously consider mechanisms to ensure inclusiveness and that leaders who can effectively contribute to the party are not sidelined.

       Lasimbang, who will be replaced by Clare Taunek from Pensiangan, said a good example is how Sabah Wanita DAP managed to build inclusiveness and consensus in electing its line-up for 2021-2023.

       “In the process, DAP women members identified women leaders who have worked hard and contributed to the party over the years, and also included all division heads, ethnic and geographical representatives in the current committee ranks.

       “In the five years that I was the Sabah DAP Wanita chief, I am proud to say that I have managed to build a strong and harmonious women movement in DAP that has strong Orang Asal leaders as well,” she said.

       On DAP stalwart Datuk Jimmy Wong’s resignation from the party, she said she understood his frustration and empathised with him, but respects his decision.

       “But for me I still believe in DAP and will continue my struggle in DAP,” she said in urging all members to stay strong in their struggles especially in realising their common aspiration to have more state and parliamentary representatives from DAP.

       Elopura’s Calvin Chong, who was also among those not included in the line-up, said this is his fourth “rejection” from the party.

       He felt that the new line-up would definitely be weaker with the absence of several veteran leaders.

       He said he was puzzled as to why if over 30,000 of his constituents could vote for him as their assemblyman, then why couldn’t his own party members have the same trust.

       Chong felt that whatever was happening within the party was unhealthy for its growth, especially with GE15 nearing.

       He felt that a recent rumour claiming that he is going to leave DAP for another party soon could be a reason for him being excluded from being a candidate again.

       “If I wanted to leave, I would have left much earlier after being sidelined for so many times,” he said.

       DAP deputy secretary-general Teresa Kok had urged Wong to retract his decision to quit DAP as the party still values his vast contributions and assistance to the party and to the people.

       “I hope he can understand that the outcome of the Sabah DAP election might not satisfy the expectations of everyone, but this was the outcome of a democratic process,” she said.

       She said although Wong has retired from active politics in Sabah, his contributions and assistance to the party here are very much needed.