SANDAKAN: Parti Warisan will hold its 10th annual general meeting (AGM) in Sandakan for the first time on Saturday and Sunday (Oct 24 and 25), with some 3,500 people expected to attend.
The two-day gathering will bring together delegates, supporters and observers from across Sabah, with several leadership positions up for grabs in the party's elections for the 2026-2029 term.
Sandakan Warisan division chief and Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong said the event would be held at two venues, with elections for the party's three wings – Wira, Wirawati and Wanita – taking place at Yu Yuan Secondary School Hall on Saturday.
The main AGM, including elections for the central leadership, will be held at Dewan Hakka the following day.
Eight candidates are vying for three vice-president positions, while 39 others are contesting 20 supreme council seats.
Chong said the three candidates securing the highest votes would be elected vice-presidents, while the top 20 candidates in the supreme council contest would be selected.
The vice-presidential race will see incumbents Datuk Dr Jaujan Sambakong, Datuk Junz Wong and Terrence Siambun seeking to retain their positions.
The five other candidates are Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman, Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, Azhar Matussin, Kapayan assemblyman Chin Tek Ming and Charles Ebbie.
Meanwhile, party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his deputy, Datuk Darell Leiking, have retained their positions unopposed.
The contest also extends to the party's women's wings, with incumbent Wanita chief Norfaizah Chua @ Giak Kiang facing Jenifer Lasimbang.
Sabrina Yahya and Norsabrina Japar will also go head-to-head for the Wirawati chief post.
Chong said delegates from Warisan's 26 divisions would participate in the central leadership elections, with each division allocated 16 voting representatives.
He said representatives from other parties, including Sabah STAR and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), had also been invited as observers.
"We expect about 3,500 people to attend, including party supporters and observers," he said at a press conference on Monday (Oct 19).
He added that about 1,500 people were expected to attend the gatherings involving the party's three wings.
Beyond the leadership elections, Chong hoped the influx of visitors would benefit Sandakan's economy, particularly restaurants and food stalls.
"I hope it won't just be the halls that are packed. I hope restaurants and food stalls throughout Sandakan will be packed too," he said.
