KOTA KINABALU: Candidates in Sabah’s fiercely divided political landscape hit the campaign trail, with many seen busy canvassing for support in their constituencies in the two weeks leading to polling day.
A day after nomination day, the popular Sunday Gaya Street market in the city saw candidates with party flags passing each other as they pitched for support from the people.
In other parts of the state, candidates took to coffee shops, markets and other public places to introduce themselves to the voters.
Meanwhile, key leaders of major parties made efforts to soothe ruffled feathers, especially for those not fielded or dropped and those unhappy with the choices of candidates.
As leaders plotted their strategies for polling day on Nov 29, the party flag war began almost immediately.
In Sabah, where traditional campaigning still holds sway, major parties wasted no time staking their flags at strategic roadsides and roundabouts to grab the public’s attention.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was in Sabah for a two-day visit beginning Saturday, had an eventful day – meeting with youths and members of the Chinese community as well as holding a media engagement before heading to the interior Melalap and Kemabong seats to shore up support for the coalition candidates.
The Pakatan Harapan chairman spent time at the different gatherings explaining the government’s position as well as the need for close and good working relations between Sabah and the Federal Government.
The PKR president also assured voters that Pakatan is not fielding any candidate for the Chief Minister’s post in the election, as it respects Sabah’s autonomy in selecting its own leader.
“We are not putting forward candidates for Chief Minister because that choice belongs to Sabah,” said the leader of Pakatan, which is in an electoral pact with local coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
GRS is led by caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is seeking a second term.
“Even though we work closely together with the state government, the choice is yours.
“What we want is for Pakatan to be solid. Our candidates are solid candidates who will take care of Sabah and ensure Sabah has good relations with the Federal Government. We work together to build up Sabah,” he said.
During the meetings, Anwar also addressed issues of development, claims of alleged or perceived corruption in the state and the Federal Government’s commitment to uphold the state’s 40% revenue rights under the Federal Constitution.
“If we choose leaders who are angry here, angry there, do not like this race, and do not like the peninsula, then how are we going to take care of the people? Our leadership wants to serve the people,” Anwar said, stressing that it is important for Sabahans to choose leaders focused on working together.
“Why do people argue and fight to become heroes? They become rich while the people suffer. For me, I do not care about being a hero. I want the people of Malaysia to be the heroes,” he told a gathering with the local community in Bukit Padang here.
Pakatan is contesting 21 seats, while the six-party GRS will be contesting 55 seats. Barisan, who has a separate electoral pact with Pakatan, is contesting 45 seats.
At least four seats are seeing “friendly fights”, where Pakatan candidates are clashing with GRS or Barisan.
Hajiji kicked off his campaign by meeting with voters at his home base of Sulaman in Tuaran yesterday, after spending most of Saturday with party grassroots leaders.
He had on Saturday filed his nomination papers to defend the seat he has held since 1990.
Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin also spent time meeting with grassroots in Kinabatangan.
State Opposition leader, Warisan’s Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal was in his home base of Semporna before kicking off his mega campaign ceramah in neighbouring Lahad Datu on Sunday.
Warisan is attempting to win back the state by contesting all 73 seats.
Other opposition leaders, Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick, remained in Tambunan and Kadamaian to meet their party workers and supporters ahead of the two-week race to polling day.
A total of 596 candidates – from three coalitions and 23 parties, and 74 independents – are fighting for 73 seats at stake in the 17th Sabah election.
