KOTA KINABALU: A political storm unfolded ahead of the Sabah polls, featuring a candidate withdrawal, the potential independent bid of a dropped nominee, and the mysterious “disappearance” of two candidates from the main list.
Barisan Nasional candidate for Tempasuk, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, will not be contesting.
He said he has turned down the offer to give way for a local candidate from Kota Belud.
“I believe that a local candidate from Kota Belud Umno will be able to shoulder this responsibility with excellence,” he said in a Facebook post.
Abdul Rahman said he had informed Umno president and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of his intention not to continue with the candidacy for the Tempasuk seat.
As a party member, he said he would continue to assist the party in other capacities.
State Barisan chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said following the development, Kota Belud Umno chief Azwan Norjan will replace Abdul Rahman.
Meanwhile, Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy were not listed by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as candidates, despite previous talk that they are likely to defend their Tanjung Keramat and Tanjung Batu seats, respectively.
When GRS announced its candidates yesterday, the names of Shahelmey and Andi were “missing”, and no explanation was given.
Political pundits attribute this to concerns that the two, who are also MPs for Putatan and Kalabakan, respectively, could potentially face action under the anti-hopping law.
Shahelmey and Andi are the two assemblymen who were suspended by Umno after aligning themselves with Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in the aftermath of Barisan’s unsuccessful coup in January 2023.
The two also faced the possibility of paying a RM100mil bond to Umno if they contest under another party.
In another development, former Pintasan assemblyman Datuk Fairuz Renddan said he will consult his supporters and party machinery before deciding whether to contest as an independent, after being dropped from the GRS line-up.
Fairuz, who serves as the youth chief of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, said his priority continues to be serving the people and supporting the GRS campaign even though he has not been nominated.
While the coalition’s decision to field Usno president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia in Pintasan came as a surprise, he said he respected the party leadership’s decision.
