Four-cornered fight for Anifah Aman, Three-cornered for Salleh Said Keruak
Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Datuk Seri Anifah Aman is facing a four-cornered fight for the Bongawan seat in the Sabah State Election. The former foreign minister is contesting against incumbent Dr Daud Yusof of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), Ag Syairin of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Mohd Azree Abd Ghani of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The Bongawan state constituency has 16,735 voters.
In the 14th General Election, Daud garnered 6,912 votes to defeat BN’s candidate Datuk Mohamad Alamin (6,117 votes) and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah’s candidate Jaafar Ismail (627 votes).
Meanwhile, former Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak of BN will take on two other contenders — Abdul Bahkrin Mohd Yusof (Warisan) and Datu Mohd Nazaruddin Datu Tigabelas (PCS) — in the contest for the Usukan seat.
In the GE14, Datuk Japlin Akim (BN) won the seat by securing 8,738 votes against Abdul Bahkrin (7,513 votes), Adzmin Awang of PAS (355 votes) and Independent Amsor Tuah (70 votes).
The state constituency has 16,883 voters.
Christina Liew in nine-cornered fight in Api-Api
Sabah PKR chairman Datuk Christina Liew is in nine-cornered fight to defend her Api-Api seat in the 16th State Sabah Election.
Liew, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, will have to take on eight contenders, namely Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Chin Su Phin, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) deputy president Datuk Pang Yuk Min, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, as well as Chong Tze Kuin of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Lo Yau Foh of Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah and three independent candidates — Sim Sie Hong, Ng Chun Sua and Marcel Jude.
In the 14th General Election, Liew, 69, garnered 8,174 votes against Yee who secured 5,220 votes, Lim Kat Chung of SAPP (598), Land Lip Fong of Anak Negeri (244) and an independent candidate Dr Chan Chee Ching (94).
Speaking to reporters at the nomination centre at Wisma Wanita, Liew admitted that said she did not expect to be challenged by eight other candidates, who are mostly seasoned politicians, for the Api-Api seat.
“Yes, I was surprised…It shows that people are very keen to be Yang Berhormat.
“It will be very challenging for me, but I will do my best, work hard and convey the message of the party (PKR) to our voters,” she said.
Musa Aman is a no-show
The whereabouts of former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman remain a mystery even after the nomination centre in Libaran where he was expected to submit his nomination form for the state election closed at 10 am today.
Every vehicle with dark-tinted screen raised the excitement of the press and others awaiting at the gate of the centre for a glimpse of Musa, much to everyone’s dismay.
Calls and text messages made to those close to him either went unanswered or replied with uncertainty of his whereabouts or whether he would be contesting in the election.
Even his residence, which is adjacent to the nomination centre, looked empty with the gates properly locked.
On Sept 9, Musa had tweeted “I am going back to Sungai Manila”, a new state seat within the Libaran parliamentary constituency.
Earlier today, he also posted an article on his Instagram account claiming that Sungai Manila Umno leaders had rejected the new candidate and wanted him instead to return and represent them.
Musa is the incumbent for the Sungai Sibuga state seat.
Tempasuk incumbent springs surprise
The incumbent of Tempasuk state seat Datuk Musbah Jamli sprang a surprise when he submitted his nomination form as an independent candidate in the Sabah snap election.
Musbah is taking on five other contenders to defend the seat.
They are former Kota Belud Umno Youth chief Mohd Arsad Bistari, who is fielded by Barisan Nasional (BN), former Sabah Customs director Datuk Hamzah Sundang of United Sabah National Organisation (Usno), Abd Alif Saibeh (Parti Cinta Sabah) and Kanul Gindol (Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah).
The other contender is former PKR candidate for the 14th General Election (GE14), Mustapha Maksud.
In the GE14, Musbah who contested on BN’s ticket secured 7,742 votes to defeat Mustapha who garnered 5,478 votes, Suwah Bulleh of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (1,494 votes) and Mustaqim Aling of PAS (521 votes).
PAS’ absence a political strategy
The absence of PAS in the Sabah state election is a political strategy as well as an effort to strengthen cooperation in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, said PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
He said although some were disappointed, Sabah PAS leaders and members in general had accepted the decision to give way to their allies to contest in the snap election.
“…we want to avoid the traps set by our (political) enemies because if we were to contest, clashes might occur among us that would adversely affect the coalition,” he told reporters after officiating at the 61st PAS Youth Assembly at the Kelantan Islamic Education Centre in Pengkalan Chepa, near here today.
Previously PAS had stated its intention to contest in 10 seats in the 16th Sabah state election.
The Sabah snap election was called after the Yang Dipertua Tun Juhar Mahiruddin consented to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s request to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly on July 30.
This came a day after Musa claimed to have the support of 33 assemblymen to topple the Parti Warisan Sabah-led government and form a new government.
The Election Commission has set Sept 26 for polling. – Bernama
