KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), led by Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, is expected to see strong challenges in the parliamentary seats as the party is expected to contest under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ticket.
Out of the 25 Sabah parliamentary seats, GRS is expected to allocate at least three to four seats to PBS, namely Kota Marudu, Tawau, Kota Kinabalu and possibly Tuaran.
Ongkili is also facing mounting challenges from allies within the GRS component parties, as well as external hurdles.
Among them are Datuk Wetrom Bahanda, who was formerly with the Sabah chapter of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
Hardly days after the GE15 election dates were set, the Kota Marudu Bersatu division chief quit the party before eventually joining Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM).
His departure was said to be due to being snubbed by the GRS leadership to stand as a candidate in Kota Marudu, which is a traditional PBS seat.
KDM president Datuk Peter Anthony has named Wetrom, who is said to command substantial support in Kota Marudu, as the party’s candidate for the seat.
But there is also speculation that Ongkili might leave Kota Marudu and instead contest Tuaran, which contains the Sulaman state seat held by Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
His elder brother, Datuk James Ongkili was the Tuaran MP and also the Tamparuli assemblyman during the Berjaya administration.
When asked about political talk of (Maximus) Ongkili moving to Tuaran, PBS deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said: “We wait,” without giving any indication if the PBS president was seriously considering the move.
Universiti Teknologi Mara senior lecturer Tony Paridi Bagang said the potential move to Tuaran could be seen as a strategy to ensure a win for Ongkili.
This was because, Bagang noted, Ongkili could leverage support due to the Chief Minister’s influence.
“He could also expect votes from the Kadazandusun community especially from Kiulu and Tamparuli (state seats in Tuaran held by PBS).
“However, there is also a risk for such a move, as it may spark issues such as Ongkili was not originally from Tuaran.
“At the same time, it also creates the perception that he was no longer popular in Kota Marudu,” he said on Saturday (Oct 29).
Externally, there is also a beehive of parties including newcomers Muda eyeing Kota Marudu, as many see it as a winnable seat which Ongkili has held since 1995.
As for Kota Kinabalu, it is considered to be a DAP stronghold as PBS has failed to regain the seat ever since losing it to the Opposition party in GE12.
The Tawau seat, if given to PBS, may represent the party’s best chance of victory compared to the other seats but it is still uncertain whether it could wrest back the constituency from PKR which won it through Datuk Christina Liew by more than a 4,000 vote-majority in GE14.
In essence, Bagang suggested that it will be a steep mountain for PBS to climb come Nov 19.
“It will be a litmus test for PBS in this GE15 to prove itself.
“This will be a tough fight for PBS but it has no option but to try it best to perform,” he said.
Ongkili had stood firm to remain with GRS amid wooing by Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to work together as an all-local party.
There was also pressure from PBS founding president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan for PBS to meet the aspirations of voters to support local parties.
