Dennison R. Indang: Charting a People-First Future for Tanjung Aru

27 November 2025

KOTA KINABALU: In the heart of Tanjung Aru, where old neighbourhoods sit comfortably beside fast-growing urban pockets, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) candidate Dennison R. Indang walks familiar streets with an ease that comes from years of community work.

He greets market vendors and elders pull him aside for quick conversations. For Dennison, these moments are not for show, they are the heartbeat of the constituency he hopes to represent.

Dennison speaks openly about development, stressing that growth should never come at the expense of the community. “Development isn’t the problem, uncontrolled development is. Every project must match the area’s capacity. Otherwise, residents pay the price through congestion, flooding, and the loss of community spaces.”

His stance is firm: if a development threatens beaches, hills or neighbourhoods, he will not hesitate to oppose it. “We’ve seen too many projects that disturb the people more than they help.”

For him, building a strong and inclusive local economy is equally important. While tourism is one of Tanjung Aru’s greatest strengths, he believes the community must diversify to thrive.

“We need micro-economies, community businesses, digital opportunities, and training that genuinely leads to income. Tourism is an advantage, but it cannot be our only path.”

His commitment to supporting Small and Medium enterprises (SMES) and young entrepreneurs is practical rather than symbolic. “Small businesses don’t need another seminar. They need easier licensing, more community business spaces, and real market access. We must help them Start and help them grow.”

Dennison does not shy away from discussing the rising cost of living. Instead of making unrealistic promises, he focuses on what an ADUN can realistically influence: pushing for more affordable housing near workplaces, securing fairer quotas for youth and B40 groups, strengthening rent-to-own schemes, reviving community markets to lower household costs, and reducing bureaucratic barriers for those needing assistance.

“I want families to feel the difference in their kitchen, not just see it on campaign posters.”

Youth development is a subject close to his heart. “Young people don’t need more motivational talks,” he says with a wry smile. “They need real jobs, real skills, and a real path to leadership.”

He envisions a clear progression, from trainee to worker to community leader, that empowers the next generation, while also addressing unemployment, drug issues and mental health concerns through community-level programmes.

Safety remains one of the most pressing concerns raised by constituents. Dennison intends to expand street lighting, install community CCTV in hotspots, revive playgrounds and sports facilities, and strengthen neighbourhood watch systems. “Families deserve to feel safe day and night. Not sometimes, always.”

His deep respect for Tanjung Aru’s natural and cultural heritage shapes many of his priorities. He believes beaches, islands, and green spaces must remain protected, and advocates for low-impact tourism that enhances experience rather than covering the coastline in concrete.

Cultural festivals, community art spaces and platforms for young creatives, he says, are not merely decorative, they can become meaningful economic drivers.

Flooding and coastal erosion, long-standing problems in the constituency, are issues he is determined to address. He wants improved drainage, effective early-warning systems, and a long-term coastal management plan. “We’ve been reactive for too long. It’s time for proper foresight.”

Dennison also promises to redefine what it means to be an accessible, accountable ADUN. “Residents shouldn’t meet their representative once a year.” If elected, he will hold monthly engagement sessions, operate an open service centre, maintain a complaint hotline, and issue quarterly public reports. “That is what transparency looks like.”

When asked which issues he would prioritise first, Dennison does not hesitate: cleanliness, safety, cost of living and children’s education. “If these fundamentals aren’t fixed, then million-ringgit projects mean nothing.”

Why should the people of Tanjung Aru place their trust in him? His answer is quiet, earnest, and grounded in reality. “I’m not here with an external agenda. I carry the Sabah First agenda—our people’s voices, rights and interests. I’m not a seasonal candidate; I’ve been on the ground long before the campaign. I won’t promise the impossible . I promise hard work, integrity, and the courage to say ‘no’ to any project that harms Tanjung Aru, Sembulan or Pulau Gaya.”

As Tanjung Aru navigates the delicate balance between growth, heritage and community welfare, Dennison hopes to be the steady hand that guides it forward, with clarity, compassion, and conviction. A leader, as he puts it, “who works with the people, not above them.”