KOTA KINABALU: Defeated Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili has vowed to continue serving the people.
Ongkili, who lost his longtime bastion of Kota Marudu to opposition Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) candidate Wetrom Bahanda, said he would continue to serve the people in different capacities.
“PBS will continue to play our role with greater zeal and commitment to serve Sabah and the community,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“As for my constituency of Kota Marudu, which I represented as a Member of Parliament for six consecutive terms and three terms as Assemblyman for Langkon and Tandek, I thank the constituents for the opportunity to serve them and hopefully I have been an agent of change.
“The electorates have made their choice and we respect their decision.”
Wetrom, who is also Bandau assemblyman, won the Kota Marudu seat with a majority of 8,174 votes. He secured 24,318 votes to defeat Ongkili.
The Kota Marudu results were announced at 6.40pm yesterday.
Ongkili congratulated all political parties in taking part in the 15th General Election and winning their respective parliamentary seats.
“To political parties that are our partners in Perikatan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, as well as Barisan Nasional, who successfully defended or won their seats, we congratulate them.
“Trust that, together, we will use the parliamentary platform as we work together for a better Sabah.
“As for the rest of us who did not make it in the elections, we thank our supporters and electorate for the opportunity,” he added.
Ongkili also thanked the Election Commission and security forces for conducting the GE15 in a safe and orderly manner.
