Susan congratulates his successor Goh.
Goh (seated, fourth left), Wong (fifth left) with the newly elected Shareda council members, secretariat staff and election supervisory committee members.
KOTA KINABALU: Managing director of Kinsabina Group of Companies Francis Goh Fah Shun has been elected as the new president of Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda).
Goh, the Revamp Team leader won the seat with 84 votes, while Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, the Vision Team leader, obtained 69 votes.
Wong had been Shareda president for two terms since 2009.
The election was conducted after Shareda’s annual general meeting (AGM) at its secretariat here yesterday, where 155 of 163 members casted their votes in the election.
The new line-up for Shareda council are deputy president Chew Sang Hai, vice presidents Dato’ Ir John Chee Shi Tong and Tan Duo Zer, secretary-general Kong Chung Vui, treasurer-general Chai Meng Kong, council members Pengiran Saifuddin Pengiran Tahir, Quek Siew Hau, Chua Soon Ping, Reggie Sua@Boboy and Chew Fei Sean.
Pengiran was the sole candidate from the Vision Team elected into the council.
Goh said he would work closely with Wong as the latter’s leadership was still very much needed.
“Do not forget, Datuk Susan is still our immediate past president.
“She also carries the title (immediate past) president of the same weight and status like mine,” he said after the election results were out.
Goh hoped that Wong would provide her guidance, and her ‘lady’s touch’ to solve some of the problems.
“For certain issues, the members already showed the signal to us that we need (to be) a bit vocal and drastic, let me handle (that).
“The lady’s touch ones I leave it to Datuk Susan,” he said.
Goh pointed out that the contest had been a close fight as he merely won by 15 votes, and that Wong only needed eight votes to win the post.
“I think this is a friendly match. We are back to a big family again in Shareda.”
Goh added that both he and Wong have common objectives in terms of the issues they wanted to address.
“We hope we can all work for a common objective, for the betterment and advancement of Shareda.”
If he failed to resolve the issues (put forward by his team) within two years, Goh said he would not seek a second term and that Wong could return, which was permissible under Shareda’s constitution.
“She (Wong) will take a temporary short break but will still be assisting me.
“We work very closely and we can handle a lot of things.”
Looking at the high percentage of turn up at the event, Goh said he and Wong had instilled democracy to Shareda.
“We have already alerted the members that their votes are very important, that they have to come and attend the AGM, so that they can put (forward) their concerns, complaints and address the issues.”
Meanwhile, Wong thanked the members and voters who voted for her, and pledged to continue in providing her services and work together with the new leadership.
She hoped that under the new leadership, Shareda would be harmonious and work towards a brighter future in property development.
Wong also wished that Goh would fight for the issues of the developers as he promised.