Tanjung Keramat candidate: If GRS wins, it will expedite Pan Borneo Highway project

PUTATAN: Barisan Nasional candidate for the new state seat of Tanjung Keramat - Shahelmey Yahya (pic) - believes that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will be able to expedite the Pan Borneo Highway project should it form the new Sabah government.

Shahelmey from Umno, who was former Pan Borneo Highway project delivery partner (PDP) managing director, said the change of government in 2018 saw the mega project in Sabah being delayed with some packages still under KIV (keep in view).

"The highway project has a very fast multiplier effect but the caretaker state government Warisan Plus did not fully understand the role of the PDP, which resulted in them terminating the company involved in the project.

"With that, the progress of the highway has been hampered and coordination was not well managed.

"If we get back the state government, we can work together to reactivate the project," he said when met during his walkabout at Taman Pantai Lok Kawi on Sunday (Sept 13).

Shahelmey, who is contesting for the first time, said so far he has received a good reception from the first two days of campaigning.

Shahelmey would be facing Mohd Salleh Ladin (Usno), Rosdy Wasli (Amanah-Warisan), Faezahwaty Abdul Mohamad Ibnu (LDP) and Elsa Uzair (PCS) in the polls.

He said the Barisan machinery would be utilising digital technology like social media applications and meeting voters via Zoom and video conferencing during the campaigning period.

Meanwhile, Rosdy who is the sole Amanah candidate for this state election, who will use the Warisan logo, expressed his gratitude to be chosen as a candidate.

He said there was no pressure in bearing the responsibility as he was used to conducting various charity activities which needed him to lead.

"Even though Amanah is a party from the peninsula, we (Warisan Plus) in Sabah only have one chosen leader as chief minister and that is Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

"Our unity shows we make our own decision here and do not need to follow different orders from the Federal (government), unlike the rival coalition," he added.