KINABATANGAN: Former Sukau assemblyman Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman has been named Warisan’s choice for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election while supreme council member Mazliwati Abdul Malek Chua will contest the Lamag state seat.
Announcing their candidacy, party deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking said that Warisan is exercising the democratic process by fielding candidates to give voters a choice.
He said the party saw itself as a local political movement representing the voices of the people on the ground.
“Voters in Kinabatangan and Lamag must be given a choice. This is not an obstacle, but a signal that Sabahans want to be represented by a local party.
“Warisan is not against the unity government; we are part of it but we are here to represent Sabahans and to bring Sabah’s voice into the government,” he told reporters after the announcement.
In the last election, Warisan lost all three state seats under Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency – Lamag, Sukau and Kuamut.
Saddi said his experience as an assemblyman would give him an advantage in leading the constituency if he is given the mandate.
He said he has contributed to the development of Sukau and he could do the same for Lamag and Kuamut in Kinabatangan.
“(Back then) we presented the blueprint, and we developed Sukau. I will present a development blueprint for Kinabatangan. I am sure that if I could do it in Sukau, I could do it for Lamag and Kuamut too,” he said.
Saddi served three terms as Sukau assemblyman from 2008 to 2020 under Barisan Nasional. He subsequently joined Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah before leaving the party in last November to align himself with Warisan.
Aside from Warisan, Barisan will be defending the two seats held by the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
The coalition has named Mohd Ismail Ayob as its candidate for Lamag. Interestingly, he contested the same seat in the last state polls as an independent.
Bung Moktar’s son Naim Kurniawan is Barisan’s candidate for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat.
The by-elections for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and the Lamag state constituency will be held on Jan 24.
