By Jacob Achoi
SERIAN, Nov 23: Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong is calling it a day in State politics and he says it is “official.”
Manyin said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had accepted his request not to be renominated as a candidate for the upcoming 12th state election.
“I have met the chief minister about my decision not to contest in the coming election, and he has accepted it.
“So it is now official that I will not be defending the seat (Tebedu) this election, which will be held next month,” Manyin told reporters today after officiating at the Serian District Education Leadership Colloquium 2021 at a hotel here.
Manyin, who is the Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research said he had made up his mind not to seek re-election since last year.
“I know age is catching up (with me), so I decided to retire from active politics last year even before the Covid-19 pandemic and to be a free man,” he said.
In the last election in 2016, Manyin won by a 6,193-vote majority, defeated PKR candidate Alex Saben Nipong.
Manyin has been an elected representative since 1996, and has held various portfolios in the State Cabinet, among them, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Minister of Youth and Sports.
He said he is looking forward to his retirement from active politics and plans to spend time with his four grandchildren and to do some gardening. — DayakDaily
