Phoong Jin Zhe

• Sabah State Assemblyman (ADUN) for Luyang since May 9, 2018, re-elected in 2020 with an increased majority of 14,521 votes

• Youth & Sports Minister of Sabah (May 2019 – Sept 2020) under the WARISAN administration, championing youth initiatives and sports programming

• Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship (from February 2023) in the GRS state government; briefly served as Minister of Industrial Development (Jan–Feb 2023) before the entrepreneurship portfolio was formally established

• Called on the Sabah government to support youth entrepreneurship post-pandemic by creating youth markets, providing microloans (RM10–20 million), and setting up a one-stop Youth Aspiration Centre

• Promoted e‑sports infrastructure and policies during his tenure as Youth Minister, aiming to turn local gaming interests into professional growth sectors

• Urged youth participation in civic rights, especially protesting delays in automatic voter registration and Undi18 implementation as undemocratic. Appointed State Chairman of Sabah DAP in October 2024, becoming the youngest to hold that position

MACC Probe on Ministry Officials (March 2024)

Alleged graft involving senior officer in his ministry handling SME grants. Phoong states he was unaware and leaves it to MACC to investigate.

• The Star (Mar 9, 2024): “Phoong unaware of Sabah MACC probe into his ministry officials”
  https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/03/09/phoong-unaware-of-sabah-macc-probe-into-his-ministry-officials

• The Vibes (Mar 9, 2024): “Graft allegations against senior officer baseless, says ministry”
  https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/101237/graft-allegations-against-senior-officer-baseless-says-ministry

Unplanned Billion‑Ringgit Deal Announcement (March 2023)

He expressed confusion after massive investment and industrial project announcements were made without his or his ministry’s knowledge.

• Sabah Media (Mar 16, 2023): “Saya hairan dan ianya tanpa pengetahuan kementerian saya – Phoong Jin Zhe”
  https://sabahmedia.com/2023/03/16/saya-hairan-dan-ianya-tanpa-pengetahuan-kementerian-saya-phoong-jin-zhe/

Accusation of Conspiracy to Topple PM (July 2023)

Responded to SAPP’s claim that Sabah DAP was plotting against Prime Minister Anwar by continuing the Sabah 40% revenue lawsuit, calling them instigators.

• The Borneo Post (Jul 20, 2023): “DAP Sabah not conspiring to overthrow PM – Phoong”
  https://www.theborneopost.com/2023/07/20/dap-sabah-not-conspiring-to-overthrow-pm-phoong/

Dispute Over PH Leadership Quotas (Dec 2024)

Denied claims that the Pakatan Harapan state chairmanship must be reserved for PKR, stressing democratic selection through AGM.

Daily Express / FMT (Dec 27, 2024): “Phoong: No such ruling on Sabah Pakatan Harapan post”
https://dailyexpress.com.my/news/248981/phoong-no-such-ruling-on-sabah-pakatan-harapan-post/

Accusation of misinformation over flyover repairs (Apr 2021)
SAPP’s Gee Tien Siong slammed Phoong for claiming that no repairs were made to the damaged Lintas flyover. Gee countered that repair works had started since January despite challenging conditions. sapp.org.my

Criticism for accepting state title despite party policy (Oct 2023)
Phoong (along with another DAP leader) accepted the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) honorific “Datuk,” violating a DAP rule against leaders accepting official titles during active service. Both issued apologies after a formal reprimand. Malay Mail

Controversial proposition to hire stateless individuals (Feb 2024)
Phoong suggested Sabah consider hiring stateless people to fill labour shortages amid industrialisation. His statement drew public scrutiny, given the sensitive issue of citizenship. The Star

Education & Advocacy: “Sabahans First” stance (Nov 2023)
Urged federal aid to prioritize Sabah students before issuing tuition waivers to Palestinian students studying in Malaysia, citing limited higher education access in Sabah. Scoop

Championing Sabah Trade Centre redevelopment (Feb 2024)
Reversed a previous decision to sell the Sabah Trade Centre land and instead pushed for its rejuvenation as an SME hub to drive local business growth. Warta Oriental

Push for infrastructure to attract investment (Feb 2023)
Highlighted inadequate infrastructure (water, electricity, logistics) as critical barriers to industrial investment. Advocated for long-term planning and investor participation in infrastructure development. Borneo Post Online

Encouraging local talent retention (May 2023)
Called on Sabahans, especially skilled youth, to return home and fill job vacancies, particularly in industrial projects like Kibing Solar. The Star

Youth & entrepreneurship promotion (Dec 2020)
Proposed state allocation of RM20 million for youth entrepreneurship loans, micro-financing without collateral, physical youth market spaces, e-sports programs, and improved public transport infrastructure. The Vibes