In an exclusive interview with FMT, Chan said Sabah’s frequent changes in leadership had hindered long-term planning.
“We are not lacking in experience with changing governments. We have changed governments many times.
“Compared with Sarawak, they have only had six chief ministers. We have had 16,” he said.
The Sabah DAP deputy chairman stressed that he was not opposing political freedom, but cautioned that voters must consider the long-term impact of instability.
He said stability was essential if Sabah wanted sustained progress and continuity in development plans.
“You are free to participate, contest and campaign. But at the end of the day, I hope voters will uphold the value of stability.
“This is the foundation Sabah needs if we want to leapfrog in the coming years,” he said.
Chan is one of nine candidates contesting the Tanjung Aru seat at this month’s election, alongside Junz Wong (Warisan), Suhaimi Buang (Perikatan Nasional), Dennison R Indang (Upko), Hiew Choon Yu (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku), Yee Wee Ping (Parti Impian Sabah), Loh Ee Eng (Parti Bumi Kenyalang) and independents Zaim Ansawi and Ritchie Jay Cheng.
Wong is the incumbent, having won the seat with a majority of 3,147 votes in the 2020 election.
Protecting gig workers
Among the issues Chan hopes to champion if elected is the expansion of socioeconomic outreach programmes in Tanjung Aru, including encouraging gig workers, fishermen and freelancers to sign up for the Social Security Organisation’s (Perkeso) Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS).
“A lot of the jobs in Tanjung Aru are not in the formal sector. The protection of these workers is equally important.
“The government subsidises 70% of the scheme’s initial registration. I will cover the balance of the 30% to increase awareness among freelancers, so that they understand they must subscribe to a social protection scheme,” he said.
Established under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017, SKSPS offers medical, temporary and permanent disability benefits, as well as dependents’ benefits.
Chan said boosting scheme participation was crucial for B40 residents and gig workers such as Grab drivers, delivery riders and other independent earners.
He also aims to address persistent traffic congestion at Tanjung Aru Beach, which he attributed to the single-lane access road that forces all vehicles to use the same entry and exit point.
Chan said he had held preliminary discussions with Kota Kinabalu City Hall for a proposed one-way traffic system, supported by the construction of a new bypass road to disperse vehicles more efficiently.