Voice of the wave - 2 - Cyril Liew

 

Here is an article I read in the Borneo Post this morning.  LINK

KOTA KINABALU (Aug 28): Gelombang Hitam (Black Wave), a movement of independent candidates, has announced its intention to contest in the 17th Sabah state election (PRN17) as an alternative to the existing political parties.

 

Cyril Gerald Liew, who will be contesting the Kepayan seat under the Black Wave banner, said the movement is spearheaded by Kudat Member of Parliament Datuk Verdon Bahanda.

Verdon, who is an independent MP within the MADANI government, continues to receive allocations for his constituency while actively voicing Sabah’s rights in Parliament.

 

Prior to this, Cyril served as a Community Development Leader (PPM) under Kepayan assemblywoman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang of Pakatan Harapan–DAP. He resigned from the post to join the Black Wave movement, which he said offers a platform free from party constraints.

Note: Datuk Jannie Lasimbang is the sister of Datuk Jennifer Lasimbang whom I  met in 2018. LINK Only after she left the political arena did she confide that she did not understand what was in my book I presented to her. 

“I chose this path because in a non-party struggle, my voice will not be blocked by a party president or leader. Black Wave is not anti-government but aims to act as the ‘barking dog’ providing checks and balances, especially on corruption, abuse of power, and Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said. 

 

Cyril stressed that Black Wave’s participation is not about personal positions but about opposing corruption, preventing misuse of power, and pressing for the full restoration of Sabah’s rights under MA63, similar to Sarawak.

Note:  '...opposing corruption, preventing misuse of power...' is music to my ears. 

He added that Black Wave offers fresh alternatives, as all its potential candidates come from diverse professional and community backgrounds, unlike the established parties whose track records voters can already evaluate.

 

The movement will present both a main manifesto and individual constituency manifestos, which have been prepared but will only be revealed once the State Assembly is dissolved.

Note: Let us wait for the manifesto not that most of these politicians-to-be will stick with it but... 

“So far, grassroots response in Kapayan has been very encouraging, and now Black Wave is spreading to other areas in Sabah,” Cyril said in a statement today.