PENSIANGAN: Voters in the small town of Sook are ready to give Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup a second chance to retain his Pensiangan seat on Saturday (Nov 19).
“He’s a nice person and can get along with everyone. He’s not arrogant,” said Abdul Rahim, a trader here.
A street hawker here also said that Arthur would be able to defend his seat, as the area has been a stronghold for Barisan.
“He did well here during his last term and I think voters will still go for him this time.
“However, I could see that the support towards other candidates from different parties were also growing. Maybe Arthur needs to offer something new to voters here to ensure he wins big,” burger stall operator Mhd Ridduan Bansir, 35, said.
Another stall operator that refused to be identified said that something new was needed.
“We want something new and refreshing. I admit that he (Arthur) has brought development but it’s not enough, said a street food seller by the Keningau-Tawau main road.
She added that the main issue for hawkers here was not being given a proper area for stalls like her to operate.
“I hope anyone that will be elected can hear our concerns and give us solutions,” she added.
The seat of Pensiangan, which sits close to the border of Indonesia’s Kalimantan and stretches from the interior town of Keningau, has 55,672 voters.
The federal constituency will see the incumbent Arthur and four others vying for the parliamentary seat.
The candidates are Siti Noorhasmahwatty Osman (Warisan), Jamani Derimin (Pejuang), Jekerison Kilan (KDM) and Sangkar Rasam (PH).
