GE15: Perikatan's Ronald Kiandee has last laugh in Beluran

Kiandee celebrating after being announced the winner for the Beluran seat.

KOTA KINABALU: Perikatan Nasional who broke ranks with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Barisan Nasional electoral pact won its gamble to field Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee to defend the Beluran seat.

Kiandee won the five-horse race for the east coast Sabah seat after securing 11,303 votes against his closest contender Benedict Asmat of Barisan Nasional who obtained 9,709 votes.

Pakatan Harapan's Felix Joseph Saang came in third with 4,460 votes while Parti Warisan's Rowiena Rasid collected 3,707 votes and Pejuang's Hausing Samsudin@Sudin obtained 155 votes.

The Bersatu vice president was in danger of missing out on retaining the seat for a sixth consecutive term after being dropped by Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor earlier.

Perikatan, led by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, then decided to place Kiandee as their candidate, breaking the GRS-Barisan pact and much to the anger of Sabah Barisan.

Under the pact, GRS gave way to Barisan to contest the seat which the former federal agriculture and food industry won convincingly in the 2018 General Election.

After winning the seat by a slim 1,594-vote majority on Saturday (Nov 19), Kiandee paid tribute to his constituents for the win, saying it was a victory for Malaysians residing in Beluran.

"Of course, this success is very meaningful to me as I was the only Perikatan candidate contesting in Sabah for the 15th General Election (GE15)," he told reporters, just moments after the Election Commission announced the official results.

"This proves that the people in Beluran were smart in making their choice and ensuring their (incumbent) elected representative continued serving the seat for the next five years.

"I will make sure their aspirations will not be wasted including those expressed by the youth during the campaign period," he added.

Kiandee said it was clear the young voters have spoken their minds through the ballots of their support for Perikatan in the constituency.

Towards this end, he said he will continue to intensify efforts to bring changes to Beluran and address issues plaguing the people, including for those who did not vote for him.

"I will deliver the responsibility placed on my shoulders and I appreciate everyone including those who did not support me through the ballot as I will be an elected representative for everyone," he said.