KINABATANGAN: Known to many as the voice behind the hit song Nadiku, Sabhi Saddi is more accustomed to the spotlight of the entertainment stage than the bustle of political walkabouts.
But in recent days, the Sabah-born singer and actor has been spending time on the campaign trail in Kinabatangan, lending his presence to Parti Warisan’s by-election efforts in support of its parliamentary candidate, Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman, his father.
Sabhi said his involvement was not merely about family ties but about using his public profile to engage young voters and encourage them to think about their future.
“Throughout the campaign, every time my father went around Kinabatangan, I followed. From a positive perspective, I can see young supporters beginning to think and open up about what kind of future they want,” he said.
Sabhi said youth issues, particularly employment opportunities, surfaced repeatedly during interactions on the ground, reflecting challenges faced by many young people in the constituency.
“Young people here need jobs. When we speak up, we want our voices to be heard,” he said, adding that about 30% of voters in Kinabatangan comprise youth.
Best known for emotional pop and R&B ballads, Sabhi first rose to national recognition through Nadiku before strengthening his presence with songs such as Cinta Sesungguhnya and Seumur Hidup and later expanded into acting.
In Sabah, he is often regarded as one of the local artistes who successfully broke into the national entertainment scene while remaining closely connected to grassroots realities.
Sabhi said his participation in the campaign also stemmed from his belief that local talents, whether in politics, the arts, or other fields, should be given space to be heard.
He said that youth should not be sidelined, as they would eventually inherit the responsibility of shaping the constituency’s future.
Whether his growing visibility in political circles signalled a personal move into politics, Sabhi said he remained focused on his career in the entertainment industry, though he did not rule out possibilities in the longer term.
“For now, I am still singing and acting. But if one day the opportunity comes, why not? What matters most is that the voices of young people continue to be heard,” he said.
Polling day for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag by-elections is on Saturday.
