Incumbent Kota Marudu Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili delivering a speech during a campaign round held at the Melangkap district polling centre in Tandek, Kota Marudu on Friday.
KOTA KINABALU: Despite opponents labelling him a 'sick man' and should go for retirement, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili remained unhampered while carrying out his campaigning for Kota Marudu seat.
The incumbent Member of Parliament was even able to crack jokes towards personal attacks thrown at him by rivals throughout the campaign period.
"I may be 69, but I can still run from the dogs if they chase me," he said to supporters who chuckled at his jest, during a campaign round at Tandek, Kota Marudu on Friday (Nov 11).
On a serious note, Ongkili assured supporters that he had sought medical advice prior to making the decision to join in the fray.
"Before I made my decision (to contest), I did medical check-ups, went to the IJN (National Heart Foundation) and discussed with specialists.
"Thank God, they told me I am well and fit to go for the campaigns.
"So, here I am, ladies and gentlemen, at your service," said Ongkili, who suffered a stroke in July 2020.
Ongkili, who is Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidate, will be in a six-corner fight for the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat.
He will face Datuk Wetrom Bahanda of Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM), Sharizal Denci (Muda), Datuk Jilid Kuminding (Parti Warisan), Pejuang Tanah Air's Mohd Azmie Zulkiflee and independent candidate Norman Tulang.
