Full backing: Hajiji meeting with Matunggong residents at a rally in Dewan Terbuka Matunggong on the GRS campaign trail. — Bernama
Hajiji among incumbents likely to retain their seats
KOTA KINABALU: In the murky political waters of Sabah’s west coast, caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is seen as one of the few big names in a comfortable position to retain his Sulaman state seat for the 10th term.
Hajiji’s Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) teammates Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif in Membakut and Datuk Limus Jury in Kuala Penyu as well as Datuk Ghulamhaidar @ Yusof Khan Bahadar (Kawang) are expected keep their seats amid the strong political currents felt across the state.
Other big names such as Sabah Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Said, Usno president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, Parti Cinta Sabah president Tan Sri Anifah Aman and state DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe are locked in neck-and-neck multi-cornered fights in their respective seats.
In Kadamaian, Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick is seen on target to retain the seat he first won in 2018.
The west coast of Sabah stretching from Kota Belud to the south-western Sipitang has 28 state seats that are seeing fierce clashes between GRS and its opponents Warisan and Barisan Nasional.
In Usukan, Mohd Salleh, who was chief minister from 1994 to 1996, remains in a tough standoff with Warisan’s Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis as he defends his family stronghold in a seven-cornered fight.
In neighbouring Pintasan, former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia is in an all-out campaign to snatch the seat from incumbent Datuk Fairuz Renddan, who was dropped by GRS, but entered the race as an Independent.
Pandikar Amin lost the seat by 86 votes to Fairuz in the 2020 state election.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali projected that Mohd Salleh remains in a position to win based on research and in Pintasan, he expects Pandikar Amin to pull through.
According to Mazlan, his projection was derived from focus group discussions, surveys and assessment of these seats in Sabah.
Phoong, who moved from Luyang to Likas, is still swimming in strong urban currents against candidates from Warisan and Sabah Progressive Party.
In Bongawan, a close race remains on the cards as GRS’ Anifah, a former foreign minister, competes with current Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin of Barisan to topple Warisan’s incumbent Dr Daud Yusof in an eight-cornered fight.
These tense fights remain unpredictable in most of the 28 seats in the west coast but for some candidates, they remain in the lead with the advantages of incumbency and core support.
“Pakatan will win the urban areas, especially in Chinese areas,” Mazlan said.
He said the controversy surrounding the death of 13-year-old schoolgirl Zara Qairina Mahathir looms among Sipitang voters as there is a perceived inaction by the government.
There are two seats under Sipitang – Lumadan and Sindumin – and Warisan might be able to win in both seats, Mazlan said.
