By: Datuk Teddy Chin
N.07 Tandek
This is a 8-cornered fight and the incumbent is Datuk Hendrus Anding of PBS, an Assistant Minister. He first won Tandek in 2020 with 3,796 votes. His closest rival, Datuk Anita Baranting, got a respectable 2,364 votes, despite being an Independent.
There is a story behind this Hendrus-Anita rivalry. You see, Anita was the PBS Assemblywoman for Tandek since 2008, that is 3 terms, each time she won with a big majority as Tandek was PBS’ stronghold.
She used to be an aide to DSP Dr Maximus Ongkili who was both MP for Kota Marudu and Assemblyman for Tandek. After Dr Max was named as a Federal Minister in 2004, he decided not to defend Tandek in 2008. He gave Tandek to his protégé, Anita.
This time around, I think Hendrus’ strongest opponents include Datuk Jilid @ Zainuddin Kuminding of Warisan and Datuk Arlinsia Agang of Star.
Jilid is a retired Malaysian diplomat who had served in several countries. Upon his retirement, he joined Warisan and was its candidate during the 2022 MP election in Kota Marudu.
He however came in at 3rd place after Datuk Wetrom Bahanda and DSP Dr Maximus Ongkili. This is 2nd try at election.
Arlinsia is an up-and-coming woman politician. To the envy of many, this (relatively) young woman is Treasurer-General of STAR. A native of Tandek, she also served as a Political Secretary to DSP Dr Jeffrey Kitingan in the Agriculture Ministry. She rose from being Jeffrey’s Special Officer in the beginning in the Ministry to a Political Secretary and even became a Datuk. So who better to represent STAR in Tandek?
P. 169 Kota Belud
N.08 Pintasan
This is an eleven-cornered fight. The incumbent is Datuk Fairuz Renddan who won on a PN-Bersatu (now PGRS) ticket in 2020. He narrowly defeated Usno president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia by only 84 votes. He polled 2,744 votes against Pandikar’s 2,660 votes.
Fairuz is defending his seat, however not on a GRS ticket. This is because Pandikar is representing GRS, much to Fairuz and followers’ disappointment and surprise.
After discussing with his family and supporters, he decided to stand as an Independent. His symbol is a book and his slogan is “Di depan saya ada rakyat. Di belakang rakyat ada saya” (In front of me stand the people. Behind the people stand me). On Nominastion Day, he and his supporters wore black shirts so initially people thought he was part of the Gelombang Hitam movement.
Fairuz’s frustration is understandable. He is after all the Youth Leader of PGRS and an Assistant Minister and the incumbent Assemblyman since 2020. And we are talking about giving the youths a chance apart from women.
There were noises of dissatisfaction including boos when Pandikar’s name was announced as a GRS candidate for Pintasan. Asked about this, Pandikar said the noise makers were not Pintasan voters.
Insisting that he would win, he then challenged reporters to bet with him. But that was before Fairuz announced his Independent candidacy. Nobody of course responded to his challenge but a reporter quipped: “Looks like I have to buy more pop corns for election night”.
Apart from Pandikar and Fairuz, other candidates include Warisan’s Abdullah Otong and KDM’s Datuk Almudin Kaida a former PBS leader. In 2020, Almudin stood as an Independent but received less than a thousand votes.
N.09 Tempasuk
This is a 7-cornered fight. The incumbent Assemblyman is Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari. He won in 2020 on a BN/Umno ticket. With 4,040 votes. His nearest rival. Datuk Musbah Jamli. an Independent received 2,355 votes. Musbah is a former Tempasuk Assemblyman and an Assistant Minister. In 3rd place in the then 6-cornered fight was PKR’s Mustapha Sakmud.
Former journalist-turned-politician Kanul Gindol got 57 votes. After this defeat, Mustapha moved to Sepanggar in the MP election in 2022 and won. He became a Deputy Minister in KL and later was appointed Chairman of the PKR Sabah.
When Sabah Umno staged a coup in early 2023 to topple Hajiji in what was known as Langkah Kinabalu supported by Warisan, Arsad was one of the Umno
Assemblymen who didn’t go along. Arsad was sidelined by Umno along with a few other Hajiji loyalists after that. Arsad chairman of a State-owned GLC. If I am not mistaken, the Sabah Fisheries Co-operative or Ko-Nelayan.
Among Arsad’s challengers is Azuwan Marjan @ Norjan of BN who obviously is out to seek revenge for Umno. Other challengers include Warisan’s Mohd Khidir Lamsir and PKS’ Dr Rimin Maun.
In 2018, Musbah Jamli of Umno defeated defeated PKR’s Mustapha Sakmud. Musbah got 7.742 votes and Mustapha a respectable 5,478 votes. Don’t forget, that was the year that BN/Umno lost badly at the national level and PH became the government. At State level, BN was also toppled by Warisan+.
By the way, apart from Musbah, Pandikar is also a former Tempasuk Assemblyman. When Pintasan was curved out of Tempasuk, Pandikar became more interested in Pintasan.
N.10 Usukan
Usukan is actually the name of an island off Kota Belud. This is an old constituency which existed even since Usno time in the 1960s. The first elected Assemblyman in 1967 was the late Tun Mohd Said Keruak who went on to become Minister then Chief Minister and eventually Governor.
Actually even before Sabahs first election in 1967,
Said Keruak was already a Minister post-Independence in 1963 when Exco Members those days were appointed.
Said Keruak was Usukan Assemblyman from 1967 to 1982. His son DSP Salleh was Usukan Assemblyman from 1994 -2004, again from 2013-2018, and again from 2020 to present.
Salleh was also Chief Minister from 1994 to 1996. History was made when in December 1994 Salleh was sworn-in as CM in front of his father TYT Tun Said.
In this election, incumbent Salleh of BN-Umno sees challenge from 5 other candidates. They include Murinah Majilis of Warisan and GRS’ Datuk Japlin Akim.
Salleh and Japlin go a long way back. Japlin was a trusted lieutenant in Kota Belud Umno which Salleh headed. When in 2004 Salleh decided not to defend Usukan and went for the KB parliamentary seat instead, he handed over Usukan to Japlin who won.
Salleh also won KB. In 2013 Salleh decided to go back to Usukan and Japlin obliged. In 2018 Salleh decided to take back KB again he handed Usukan back to Japlin a second time.
About 2 years before 2018, Salleh was made a Federal Minister by then PM Najib via appointment as a Senator since he was not an MP.
But as Kak Wan (Anwar’s wife) said Manusia Merancang Tuhan Turut Merancang (Man Plans but God also Plans), Salleh lost in 2018. Even BN lost both the Federal and State Governments that year.
Anyway, Salleh made a comeback in 2020 when he for the umpteen time won in Usukan again. This time around, as fate would have it, Salleh and his former protégé Japlin finally clash in an election.
Japlin represents GRS. He has been with Hajiji since the Bersatu days and later PGRS. After Hajiji became CM, Japlin was made Chairman of Cement Industries, a SEDCO subsidiary. After succeeding Salleh last time, Japlin ever became an Assistant Minister.
Can the pupil defeat the master? We will know soon enough. Which bring us to Murinah whose full name is Isnaraissah. This young Electrical Engineering graduate of UMS was the Warisan candidate who defeated Salleh in the MP election in KB in 2018. A newcomer and relatively unknown defeating a former CM.
In 2018, Murinah obtained 23,429 votes against Salleh’s 19,167 votes. Completely unexpected. Giant Killer of sorts. But then again, 2018 was the year when Malaysians and Sabahans were fed up with BN/Umno.
After the formation of the PN/PH+ government under Tun Dr M, Murinah was made a Deputy Minister in KL, a windfall for the young lady. She however lost the job in 2020 when the PN/PH government collapsed due to a coup. But she remained MP until the next election.
Then in 2022 MP election, Murinah became a Giant Killer a second time when she defeated another former Kota Belud MP and former Federal Minister, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan also of BN/Umno. Salleh didn’t stand then, giving way to Rahman.
In fact, for Murinah it was sweet revenge because in 2013 Rahman defeated her. At that the fresh graduate Murinah was a PKR candidate. So she started her political career through PKR and not Warisan. Rahman obtained 21,768 votes against Murinah’s 16,673 votes. That year BN/Umno was still strong in Sabah.
There was no 1MDB scandal yet. Independent candidate Kanul Gindol, a former journalist, collected 185 votes. So between Salleh, Murinah and Japlin who will win this time? Will Murinah continue to be a Giant Killer?
N.11 Kadamaian
This is one of the most watched constituencies. Reason being it involves the president of a party which until recently was a component of the federal ruling coalition, PH. Datuk Ewon Benedick is more than the Kadamaian incumbent. He was also until recently a Federal Minister via his position as Penampang MP.
It is not every day that a Federal Minister resigns especially on the eve of elections. But Datuk Ewon Benedick did just that. By now his reasons are common knowledge. His pulling Upko out of PM Anwar’s PH days before Nomination reminds me of PBS pulling out of BN days before Polling in 1990.
It is not everyday that a political leader takes this kind of risk. We all know what happened to PBS after 1990 when the Gagasan Rakyat it backed failed to unseat BN. Will Upko end up as another PBS if GRS+ retains power in Sabah? It should be remembered that even if GRS+PH loses, PH+ including GRS is still the federal government. A good leader is one who dares to take risk and not be ‘pengejut’.
He not only quit as Federal Minister. He also gave up his position as Sabah PH chief. It shows hat he is not power crazy. Whether he made a right or wrong decision, it depends on who you ask.
As the saying goes, No risk no gain. Even if his decision is deemed to be wrong, that is his and Upko’s problem. This is democracy. As Sabahans would say: “Itu dia punya tahu lah itu”.
Ewon first won in Kadamaian in 2018 on a BN-Upko ticket. At that time the Upko president was DSP Wilfred Madius Tangau. But Tangau who was Tuaran MP and a Federal Minister did not stand in the State election. Ewon got 6,861 votes. His closest rival Lukia Indan of PKR got 3,567 votes.
After the 2018 election, Tun Musa was already sworn-in as CM at the Istana. BN achieved a simple majority after Dr Jeffrey and his two Star Assemblymen including himself supported Musa.
Then Upko switched its allegiance and supported Shafie’s Warisan and the rest is history. Tangau via appointment as Nominated Assemnlyman ws made a DCM while Ewon a Minister. Ewon became one of the youngest Ministers in Sabah’s history. Ewon is a former Upko Youth Leader. When he gave a speech, he impressed even then CM Musa who praised him.
Ewon retained his Kadamaian seat in 2020, still on an Upko ticket and he was still a Caretaker Minister in the Warisan+ government. He obtained 6,823 votes.
His nearest rival Demis Rumanti of PBS got 3,385 votes. BUT, a big BUT, he was the only Upko candidate who won, out of more than a dozen. Everybody thought that was the end of Upko.
Towards the 2022 MP election and the Upko party election, Tangau already made known his decision not to seek election as president in favour of Ewon.
But both Tangau and Ewon won as MPs. By then Upko had dumped Warisan+ and joined PH led by Anwar. Upko’s gamble paid off as Anwar became PM. Ewon was made a Federal Minister and the rest is history. Politics is about making the right bet at the right time. Sabahans say Main Ketam2.
In this election, Ewon is involved in a 8-cornered fight. Looks like they are putting pressure on Ewon after Upko’s exit from PH. However, Ewon’s major challenge is expected to come from GRS’ James Muyou and Warisan’s Norman Simon.
They say that a friend’s enemy equals a friend. So does Warisan now consider Upko a friend, we don’t know. James holds an MBA from USA and was a university lecturer. Looks like he is giving Ewon a run for his money.
N.12 Sulaman
Sulaman is one of the most watched, if not the most, constituencies. This is where the Chief Minister DSP Hajiji Hj Noor is involved, in a 5-cornered fight Apart from Hajiji who is GRS chairman and PGRS president, the other 4 are Dain Hjh Siti Aminah Elley of PN-Bersatu, Dr Shahnon Rizal Thaijudin of BN-Umno, Pajudin Nordin of PIS, and Mokhtar Hussin of Warisan.
Before I go into details of the candidates, Sulaman,by the Sulaman Bay, is near Tuaran.Town. A coastal road, the Pan-Borneo Highway from Sulaman to Kudat is being built.
The first Sulaman election was held in 1967 and the winner was Datuk Indan Kari of Usno. He however served only one term and was appointed Chairman of the Sabah Padi Boarrd. In 1975 he was appointed the Governor (TYT) and became Tun Hamdan Abdullah, replacing Tun Fuad Stephens.
In 1971, Datuk Indan as he was fondly called was replaced as Sulaman Assemblyman by Datuk Dahlan Harun, father of Datuk Abdul Rahman. In 1986, former Chief Minister Datuk Osu Sukam was Sulaman Assemblyman for a short while.
From 1990 till now, the Sulaman Assemblyman has always been Hajiii, a record of sorts. The only person who can equal him is Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan of Tambunan. Hajiji has said that this would be his last election, saying he is tired.
The other 4 candidate – Datin Siti Aminah is the wife of veteran Sulaman politician Datuk Nootaip Suhaili who stood as an Independent in Tuaran MP and got 2,008 votes. The was the year when Madius Tangau of Upko defeated Joniston of PBS narrowly and Noortaip was blamed for splitting the votes.
Dr Shahnon is a newcomer and nothing much is k own about him except that he was one of the nedical doctors who rushed to a Kiulu candidate’s aid when he fainted during nomination. He is the Information Chief of the Youth Movement of Tuaran Umno. He is 32 and a Russian-trained doctor.
Pajudin Nordin is a former Sabah PKR chief. It is not clear when and why he left. He is a Islamic religious figure with the title of Ustaz. He founded the Maahad Tafiz Negeri Sabah now known as Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sabah (ITQAS). Ustaz Pajudin himself is a former Qari.a Quran recital winner.
Lastly, Mokhtar Hussin of Warisan. If I am not mistaken and if it’s the same Mokhtar, he stood as PKR Tuaran deputy chairman earlier this year but lost, only placed third. The former government administrative officer later left PKR and joined Warisan.
In the 2020 election, Hajiji beat his nearest rival Datuk Aliasgar Basri of Warisan by 3,099 votes. Hajiji obtained 5,919 votes against Aliasgar’s 2,820 votes. A third candidate from PCS got 253 votes. Aliasgar has since moved to the neighbouring constituency of Pantai Dalit.
Hajiji is expected to retain his Sulaman seat, the only question is by what margin. Political observers say the number of candidates against him is a ploy by the opposition to try to reduce his majority.
MORE TOMORROW
