Walkabouts Key to Stronger Community Ties

14 February 2026

PUTATAN: Walkabout programmes play a vital role in strengthening two-way engagement between the government and local communities, particularly during the festive season, Putatan MP Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya said on Saturday.

Shahelmey said such initiatives allow elected representatives, together with officers from the Parliamentary Office, State Assembly office and relevant agencies, to assess conditions on the ground and obtain direct feedback from the public.

“This provides transparent, first-hand input as we meet people face to face,” he said, adding that the approach enables the government to fine-tune solutions to issues faced by traders and residents in the areas visited.

He noted that walkabouts held in conjunction with Chinese New Year celebrations and preparations for Ramadan were especially timely, as they allowed authorities to gather views efficiently and improve service delivery.

Shahelmey was speaking after conducting a Chinese New Year walkabout and distributing mandarin orange gift boxes to traders at shoplots in Tanjung Aru town and Sembulan.

Also present was Tanjung Keramat State Assemblyman Shah Alfie Yahya and several local community leaders.

Shahelmey, who is also chairman of the Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation (SOGDC), said the programme provided an opportunity to engage with members of the Chinese business community in the area.

“In Sabah, we have long practised mutual respect and tolerance among our diverse ethnic groups. Programmes like this allow us to share in the festive joy together,” he said.

He added that the annual parliamentary-level initiative not only spreads festive cheer but also reinforces community bonds across Tanjung Aru and Sembulan.