GE13: Local SAPP going for 41 state seats and 8 parliamentary seats

KOTA KINABALU: Local opposition party, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) will contest in eight parliamentary and 41 of the 60 state seats, paving the way for fierce fights with other opposition as well as Barisan Nasional parties contesting in Sabah.

The eight MP seats are Kudat, Kota Marudu, Sepangar, Putatan, Kimanis, Sipitang, Tenom and Tawau.

Already PKR has announced it is going for 19 parliamentary seats and 43 state seats with the remaining seats at stake to be contested by its partner under Pakatan Rakyat, PAS and DAP.

Another opposition party, State Reform Party (STAR) will announce its list today and it is believed that the party will also be gunning for around 40 state seats and perhaps eight to 15 parliamentary seats.

SAPP president Yong Teck Lee in announcing his list last night said that under an amended state constitution only registered political party may form the state government and that is why SAPP is contesting a majority of state seats in Sabah.

“Tonight we announce the final eight for MP and only 38 of the 41 state seats we are contesting as we still want to see how other parties put up their candidates,” he told a crowd of about 400 gathered at the Kepayan Low Cost Housing shop complex near here under a light drizzle.

Yong himself has decided to go back to his old state seat of Likas which he had to vacate on a high court’s order following an election petition against him several years ago.

SAPP deputy president Eric Majimbun, the incumbent MP for Sepanggar meanwhile is now contesting for his hometown Inanam state seat which falls within Sepanggar constituency.

The only other SAPP parliamentarian, Chua Soon Bui, got another opportunity to defend Tawau for SAPP, an uphill task now as the last time she won it was with the support of then SAPP’s ally Umno.

Sabah State Assembly deputy speaker, Frankie Chong, meanwhile will contest the Sook state seat in the interior against the PBRS-BN candidate.

Multi-racial line-up

The rest in the list comprise old and young candidates from various ethnic groups including Dusun, Suluk, Bajau, Rungus, Murut and Sino besides ethnic Chinese, giving SAPP a truly multi-racial line-up.

Meanwhile SAPP vice-presidents Chin Hong Kiong and Jimmy Jawatih will be contesting the Sepanggar and Tenom MP seats, respectively.

Information chief Chong Pit Fah is the party’s candidate for Kepayan while treasurer general Dulie Mari will contest for the Putatan MP seat.

Incumbent Luyang assemblywoman Melania Chia Chui Ket is retained to defend her Luyang state seat.

Secretary-general Richard Yong will be fielded in the Tanjong Aru state seat while Penampang divisional chief Danim Alysious Siap going for the state seat of Moyog.

Vice presidents Wong Yit Ming and Japiril Suhaimin will be contesting in the state seats of Api Api and Kundasang, respectively.

“We will reveal the (remaining) seats (the party is contesting) in the next one or two days after we have the final outcome of the infighting between PKR,PAS,DAP,” Yong said.

Luke Rintod