KENINGAU : – Gundohing Jekerison Kilan, a former footballer for Sabah who has transitioned into politics, is anticipated to run for the Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) in the Nabawan state constituency during the forthcoming state elections.
Having been entrusted by the then KDM president Datuk Peter Anthony to oversee KDM Nabawan’s activities, Jekerison, a dedicated supporter, is now viewed as the main challenger to the incumbent assemblyman, Datuk Abdul Ghani Datuk Haji Mohamed Yassin, representing GRS.
Jekerison had contested Pensiangan on KDM ticket but lost in the 2022 15th parliamentary elections.
Before his political career, Jekerison was celebrated as one of Sabah’s top defenders while playing for the Rhinos from 1989 to 1998.
Recognised for his speed and strength, the Nabawan native from Kampung Malinja, affectionately known as “Roberto Baggio”, also donned the Negeri Sembilan team jersey in 1994.
Unlike the struggle on the football field, where the players’ hard work and sweat are essential, Jekerison said life as a politician is more challenging because it is accompanied by heavy and holistic responsibilities, namely “solving all the people’s problems”.
After spearheading the KDM Nabawan for two years, Jekerison, who is also the KDM Pensiangan Division Chairman, expressed his willingness to contest in the Nabawan state constituency if given the opportunity.
“I am always open and have no problem being a candidate because I have been prepared for a long time, both in terms of work experience and mentally, physically, and logistically.
“Over the past two years, I have frequently met with residents to delve into and understand the needs, hardships, and problems faced by the community in the Nabawan area.
“This experience truly injected me with the spirit to provide the best service to the people if given the mandate,” he said in his latest social media post.
Jekerison said that based on the latest trends in public support, Nabawan voters, who are predominantly from the Murut tribe, want ‘change’.
According to him, many residents of Nabawan are disappointed with the current situation, especially the ongoing land issues.
“For example, many local villagers in Nabawan have been complaining for years that they have applied for land but have not yet received grants, and there are many other grievances related to land matters, including specific land ownership cases that are quite extensive… this is one of the major issues in Nabawan…the community is unhappy.
“Additionally, many residents raised various infrastructure facility issues, including the lack of roads leading to agricultural farms… It should be noted that the majority of Nabawan’s population is involved in agricultural activities. “We at KDM believe this issue deserves attention,” he said.
Jekerison, a graduate of a Diploma in Political Science, is determined to bring as much development as possible to the Nabawan state constituency for the good and well-being of the people if given the mandate.
“I also see that youth development, including sports activities, needs to be intensified, in addition to establishing a Murut Cultural Museum in Nabawan in the future to attract more tourists to visit this district,” said Jekerison, who is friendly and approachable to the people.
In this regard, Jekerison hopes that the residents of Nabawan can unite and give strong support to KDM in the upcoming state elections.
If the public’s drive for change persists, he believes that KDM will be capable of offering significant competition to GRS-PH, potentially leading to a surprise outcome in Nabawan.
The typical resident of Nabawan, a district in Sabah characterised by a significant population of families enduring extreme poverty, wishes for an elected representative to emerge from a background of hardship within the village, someone who comprehends the needs of the community, particularly those residing in the more isolated regions of the Interior.
Q1Will the Year of the Snake 2025 bring good fortune to Jekerison? Let’s wait and see the results of the upcoming state elections.