KOTA KINABALU: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah’s Youth wing is pushing for greater representation in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election that is due by September.
Gagasan Youth chief Datuk Fairuz Renddan said five candidates will be proposed for party president Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s consideration.
“The names will be presented at the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Supreme Council meeting Tuesday evening (March 11).
“However, the final decision is still pending further discussions," he said after a breaking fast event with media practitioners on Monday (March 10).
Fairuz noted that the proposed candidates include both fresh faces and experienced figures.
“Some were considered in the last election, while others are emerging leaders with strong potential,” he added.
Fairuz also stressed that the selection of candidates should be determined through consultations within GRS, rather than being an individual or party-specific decision.
He acknowledged the views of Sepanggar MP Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, who has expressed his intention to contest the Tempasuk state seat.
However, Fairuz reminded that Hajiji, who is also the Sabah Chief Minister and Gagasan Rakyat president, had already announced that the incumbent, Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari, would be defending the seat.
“Every party leader has the right to express their opinions, but the final decision rests with the coalition’s leadership. This is not just about Pakatan Harapan announcing its candidates; it concerns a seat originally held by our party president,” Fairuz said.
Earlier reports on Sunday (Mar 9) indicated that Mustapha, who also chairs Sabah’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Leadership Council, had not ruled out contesting Tempasuk in the upcoming election.
In the last election, Mustapha contested the seat under the PKR ticket, but lost to Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari.
Now, Mohd Arsad, who has since joined Gagasan, intends to defend his position.
When asked about his own electoral prospects, Fairuz stated that he is ready to defend his Pintasan seat if he receives enough support.
“I am committed to defending the seat if the president and the people of Pintasan continue to support me.
"Ultimately, I will abide by the president’s decision, but as long as the constituents still want me as their representative, I will continue to serve and fight for them,” he said, while reiterating that candidate selection is ultimately the decision of the party’s top leadership.
“Whoever is chosen to contest in Pintasan. whether it’s me or another candidate selected by the party president. I will accept it. What matters most is that the candidate fights for the people, not personal interests,” he said.
He stressed that while competition is expected, priority should be political stability rather than individual ambitions.
“Competition is natural. Every party wants to field candidates, but the real question is whether we want to showcase our strength individually or ensure political stability. The GRS chairman is clearly focused on uniting all parties for the greater good of Sabah,” he said.
Commenting on traditional strongholds, Fairuz noted that political landscapes are constantly shifting based on public sentiment.
“Strongholds have fallen in the last state election. This proves that voters do not only look at parties but also at the individuals leading them. Politics, like sports, sometimes requires veteran players to step aside and give way to new talents,” he said.
He remains optimistic that young, capable leaders who understand the people’s needs will be given the opportunity to contest.
“We leave the final decision to the leadership, but I believe there should be space for young leaders like us. We may not yet be at the highest levels, but our priority remains the people’s welfare,” he said.
