TAMPARULI : – Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam will likely be challenged by former banker Datuk Jaffry Mohd Ali of Democratic People (KDM) Kundasang in the forthcoming state election.
The former bank CEO’s candadicy was announced by KDM deputy president Datuk Wetrom Bahanda during a gathering with the Chinese community at the Bawing Lakang Hall here on Friday night.
Wetrom also announced former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Datuk Rusdin Riman would be KDM candidate for Paginatan.
Currently, the Paginatan constituency is represented by Datuk Abidin Madingkir.
However, Wetrom said that the official list of KDM candidates will only be finalised after the Sabah Assembly is dissolved.
“The selection of KDM candidates is not determined by me alone; it is decided together with the KDM supreme council members.
“We are contesting not for personal gain… if you want to run to get rich, this party is not the place for that. We want to contest to ensure that Sabah does not fall behind in the mainstream development after the state election,” he said.
Wetrom, who is Kota Marudu MP is also the KDM Sabah Election Director.
He emphasised that the KDM party, which will contest independently in the state election, does not advocate for the interests of a specific race only; instead, this local party fights for everyone, regardless of ethnicity and religion.
In this regard, Wetrom invited the Chinese community in the state to join KDM to uphold the rights of Sabah in line with the aspirations of MA63.
Also present at the event were the Vice President and KDM Tamparuli Coordinator, Gundohing Dr Gaim James Lunkapis; Vice President Gundohing Henry Saimpon; Secretary-General Willie Jude; AMT members; and DUN coordinators.
