![[VIDEO] 24-year-old Cherishe Ng set to make waves in S’wak polls](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/20211211_cherishe_ng_fb.jpeg)
KUALA LUMPUR – Will a 24-year-old politician make a splash in Batu Lintang during the campaign period before Sarawak heads to the polls on December 18?
Sarawak PKR’s Cherishe Ng Phuay Hui is going up against four older men but believes she has a winning chance to make a difference in the Batu Lintang state constituency.
“I am the youngest candidate going up against four older men, two of which are in their golden years, with experience, but I believe I can do just as well.
“PKR has been advocating for youths to be in the forefront, and acknowledges that we are the future generation to lead the nation,” she told The Vibes.
“For example, in the Melaka election, campaigning had to be done via social media due to the health standard operating procedures, which gave the younger generation the opportunity to contribute ideas about it.”
Ng highlighted that none of the 82 incumbents in Sarawak were under 30 and half of them are in the retirement age group.
“Look, even our (Sarawak) tourism, arts, culture, youth and sports minister (Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah) is 60 years old, and I believe that other political parties should follow PKR in giving opportunities to the younger generation.”
Ng will take on incumbent See Chee How of Parti Sarawak Bersatu who was previously Sarawak PKR vice-chairman, Leong Shao Tung of Aspirasi, Voon Lee Shan of Party Bumi Kenyalang, and Sih Hua Tong of Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
She added that Sarawak has a problem with politicians hanging on to power for decades.
“It’s been 58 years: so many decades, and our problems are still the same from infrastructure to development. Sarawak is the richest in natural resources but our people are some of the poorest. Why aren’t our local politicians doing anything about it?
“Over the years, our resources have been taken over by Putrajaya. Everything goes into Kuala Lumpur, to Peninsular Malaysia.
“We are left with crumbs and people tend to forget that Sarawak did not join Malaysia – Sarawak is part of the formation of Malaysia.”
She is calling for the Malaysia Agreement 1963 to be made a reality, returning equal status to Sabah and Sarawak.
On calls for secession, she said the “exploitation” has fuelled frustration among Sarawakians, slamming the toxic political environment that originated from Peninsular Malaysia.
“Constant corruption in federal and state governments. Toppling governments is not something that we want, and should not happen.
“Our Peninsular Malaysia friends have to understand that Sarawak has no desire to leave Malaysia, but the oppression has to stop.”
Meanwhile, Ng shared her manifesto with the needy and underprivileged in mind.
She added that she is looking into devising a programme to provide coordinated welfare aid and job creation to the needy folk in Batu Lintang if she is elected. This includes a mentorship programme for the youth that will be run by trained counsellors.
Sarawak heads to the polls on December 18, with nomination day on December 6 and early voting on December 14. – The Vibes, December 12, 2021
Additional reporting by Stephen Then
