By Datuk Philip Golingai
KOTA KINABALU : – To contest or not to contest in the Sabah election is a dilemma for some “big small” politicians.
The term “big small” politician is a distinctive Sabahan political idiom used to define a figure who holds dual elected mandates – MP and assemblyman.
The term originated from the betting options in 4D lottery: the Big Bet covers all 23 prize categories (analogous to the MP’s broad national focus).
In contrast, the Small Bet covers only the top three prizes (mirroring the assemblyman’s concentrated local focus).
Out of the 25 MPs from Sabah, there are seven “big small” politicians.
They are Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (Semporna MP and Senallang assemblyman), Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Keningau MP and Tambunan assemblyman), Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick (Penampang MP and Kadamaian assemblyman), and Sabah Umno head Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan MP and Lamag assemblyman).
The other three are Parti KDM deputy president Datuk Wetrom Bahanda (Kota Marudu MP and Bandau assemblyman), caretaker Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (Putatan MP and Tanjung Keramat assemblyman), and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (Kalabakan MP and Tanjung Batu assemblyman).
Shahelmey and Andi are suspended from Umno following their support for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister when Sabah Barisan Nasional attempted to oust the latter in a move known as Langkah Kinabalu in Jan 2023.
Hajiji recently hinted that Shahelmey will contest under the GRS ticket when he told the media that the Tanjung Keramat assemblyman was with “siurang” (a Sabah word for “us”).
It is not clear whether GRS will field Andi to defend his Tanjung Batu seat.
Should they be fielded by GRS or any party other than Umno, they may have to forfeit their parliamentary seat under the anti-hopping law.
The two Umno MPs will face legal action, including a fine of RM100mil, if they contest other than under the party’s logo.
They are subjected to a bond agreement signed with the party before they received their watikah (candidate credentials) in the 2023 General Election.
Will Shahelmey and Andi risk being sued for RM100mil?
The other five “big small” politicians will defend their respective seats, except Wetrom.
He will not defend Bandau but will contest in adjacent Matunggong – both state seats are within his Kota Marudu parliamentary constituency.
Talk is that he is avoiding a clash with his sister Redonah Bahanda, who is GRS’s bet for Bandau.
Out of the remaining 18 MPs in Sabah, 10 will contest for seats in the 73-seat assembly.
Kudat MP Datuk Verdon, Bahanda, who is the brother of Wetrom and Redonah, will contest in Tanjung Kapur, one of the state seats in his parliamentary constituency.
Verdon is an independent MP and will lead a group of independent candidates called Black Wave to contest in several seats.
In Kota Belud, MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis of Warisan is tipped to contest in either Usukan or Tempasuk, which is two of the four state seats in her constituency.
Upko’s Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau is set to contest in Tamparuli, one of the three state seats in his constituency.
There’s talk that DAP’s Kota Kinabalu MP, Datuk Chan Foong Hin, will be a candidate in Tanjung Aru, a state seat in the nearby Putatan parliamentary area. Deputy Foreign Minister and Kimanis MP Datuk Mohamad Alamin of Barisan is speculated to contest in Bongawan, a state seat under his constituency.
The president of PBRS – a component party of Barisan – Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, is contesting the Sook seat in his Pensiangan constituency.
If there is a seat that Bersatu can win in the Sabah election, it is Sugut which its vice-president and Beluran MP Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee is going for.
Two Dewan Rakyat lawmakers are also expected to take on a state seat in their respective parliamentary area – Barisan’s Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir is said to be contesting in Sungai Sibuga while DAP’s Sandakan lawmaker Vivian Wong is tipped to contest in Elopura.
Talk is that Lahad Datu MP Datuk Yusof Apdal may be Warisan’s choice for either Segama or Kunak.
The Sabah election has become a high-stakes legal and political gamble, forcing MPs, especially those facing a potential RM100mil bond, to choose between their parliamentary mandate and state power in a test of the anti-hopping law.
Editor: The writer Datuk Philip Golingai is a senior news editor at Star Media Group. On Sundays, he writes a column on politics called It’s Just Politics.
