KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Yeo Boon Hai will officially be the first Chinese mayor of Kota Kinabalu City tomorrow, February 2.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman said Yeo, the current City Hall director general, will replace the city’s third mayor, Datuk Abidin Madingkir, whose term of service expires today, February 1.
The first Kota Kinabalu City Mayor was Datuk Abdul Ghani Rashid, who served from 2002 to 2006. Abidin, succeeded the city’s second mayor, Datuk Illyas Ibrahim, in February 2011.
Yeo, will be the city’s fourth and the first Chinese mayor.
“The Sabah government expresses its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Datuk Abidin Madingkir for his dedication and outstanding service as Mayor of the City,” Musa announced through a statement here yesterday.
“During his career, he has managed to bring many changes and advancements, in particular to City Hall and the citizens, thus making Kota Kinabalu an attractive, beautiful and prosperous natural resort city.
“The Sabah government congratulates the new mayor and looks forward to him carrying out his duties and responsibilities with commitment and dedication,” added Musa.
Yeo entered the civil service in 1980 as an officer in the Resource Development Ministry before moving on to the Tourism and Environment Ministry. He has held several important positions throughout his service with the state government, among which are as the district officer for Beaufort and Kudat, as well as the chief assistant director for the Sabah State Civil Service Department.
He was born in Sipitang and has a Bachelor of Science degree with Second Class honours in environmental biology from the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, political and business leaders welcomed Yeo’s appointment as the fourth Mayor of Kota Kinabalu City.
Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) president Datuk Seri Panglima Dr T.C. Goh said the appointment reflects Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman’s support for the Chinese community and his determination to develop the city.
“As we usher in the Year of the Monkey, we are very honored to welcome the first Chinese Mayor of Kota Kinabalu. FCAS welcomes and will fully support Yeo as the fourth Mayor of the city.”
Goh also urged the city folks to back Yeo in his new appointment and work together to achieve progress and prosperity for Kota Kinabalu.
He added that the federation looked forward to Yeo’s performance as a people-centric Mayor.
Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui also welcomes the appointment of Yeo.
Lui said Yeo is the first Chinese mayor since Kota Kinabalu was upgraded to city status 16 years ago in the year 2000.
“This is indeed good news for the community to celebrate and cheer about,” he said.
In fact, Lui described the appointment of a Chinese Mayor as the biggest lunar New Year angpow given by the Chief Minister to the Chinese community.
He is grateful that the Chief Minister is concerned and had listened to the wishes and appeals from the Chinese community, especially from KKCCCI.
“KKCCCI’s stand to fully support the government is clear and obvious. We will continue to give our strong support to the government especially the state government led by Musa,”he said in a press statement yesterday.
On behalf of KKCCCI members and the Chinese community, Lui congratulated Yeo on his appointment.
He hoped that the new Mayor would further improve and upgrade the basic facilities and infrastructure in and around Kota Kinabalu, particularly pertaining to traffic congestion in the city.
“In line with the rapid development in Kota Kinabalu in recent years, the infrastructure in the city has to be upgraded to meet the needs of the people,” he said.
Lui also requested Yeo to focus more on developing Kota Kinabalu as a tourism paradise to lure Chinese tourists in order to stimulate the economy of the state capital.
He added that KKCCCI would arrange a courtesy call on the new mayor in the near future to build better rapport, and would continue to jointly organize events such as My Rubbish My Responsibility and Safe City Campaign with City Hall.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) also welcomes the appointment of Yeo as the new Mayor of Kota Kinabalu City.
LDP chief publicity officer Albert Kok said Yeo’s vast administrative experience as a civil servant and district officer would help to make him a competent mayor.
He added that Yeo, who is the first Chinese to hold the post since Kota Kinabalu, was elevated to city status in 2000, showed that the mayoral appointment transcended race.
Kok believed that city folks, irrespective of their race and religion, would benefit when Yeo assumes office.
“Yeo is an approachable and helpful person. During his tenure as the Director-General of City Hall, Yeo had rendered much assistance in resolving issues faced by the people in Kota Kinabalu. I believe he will be a very dedicated and responsible Mayor,” Kok said in a press statement yesterday.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Api Api assemblywoman Christina Liew said Yeo would have lots of work to do to improve the image of KK city.
“First and foremost is cleanliness,”she said.
“Congratulations and welcome his (Yeo) appointment. I hope he will be a people’s mayor, serving the people without fear or favour. I look forward to working with him as the wakil rakyat of KK,”she added.
In the past, Liew expressed difficulty in getting government officials’ cooperation when trying to address the concerns of the people in her constituency.
The state assemblywoman expressed this to the media around a year ago in February 2015, during her Chinese New Year walkabout at the Sunday Gaya Street Market here.
One of the persons singled out during that time was Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir, whom she thought could possibly be busy with other tasks when trying to get in touch with him.