SANDAKAN: Gerakan returns to Sabah ballots after a seven-year hiatus since 2018, announcing plans to contest three state seats under the Perikatan Nasional banner — two in Sandakan and one in Kota Kinabalu — in the coming Sabah election.
Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai said the seats are Elopura, Tanjung Papat and Luyang, adding that the party has finalised its candidates and will contest under the Perikatan logo.
“The list has been submitted to Perikatan and will be announced by chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the coalition’s candidate announcement in Kota Kinabalu on Nov 11,” he said at a press conference here Friday (Nov 7).
Lau said the decision was made following a central working committee meeting attended by national and state Gerakan leaders, adding that the move signalled the party’s re-entry into Sabah’s political landscape.
He said Sandakan was chosen because of the party’s historical roots there, noting that Gerakan previously held both Elopura and Tanjung Papat through former deputy chief minister Datuk Raymond Tan, and former Elopura assemblyman Datuk Au Kam Wah.
Lau acknowledged that the party’s strength in Sabah is not as strong as during its time in government when Gerakan was part of Barisan Nasional, but said many veteran members have since returned to support the party.
“Of course, to be frank, the strength is not as strong as before — that time we were the government, now we’re the opposition. But we’re thankful to see our veteran members coming back to help us,” he said.
Lau added that residents had voiced frustration over long-standing issues such as poor water quality, frequent power disruptions and damaged roads, which he described as unacceptable for Sabah’s second-largest city.
“Even after 20 years, I see the same problems in Kampung Sim-Sim — uncollected garbage, bad smell, no change at all. Where is the development?” he said.
He also said Gerakan supports the “Sabah for Sabahans” sentiment, adding that all three candidates would be locals familiar with grassroots issues.
Sabah Gerakan is currently led by chairman Datuk Alexander Lo Su Hyen, who has been working closely with the national leadership in preparing the party’s state machinery for the polls.
All three seats are currently held by former or current DAP leaders — Luyang by Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, Elopura by Calvin Chong who has since joined Warisan, and Tanjung Papat by former Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung, who has left the party.
