GE13: Ex-principal to take on Masidi in Karanaan

RANAU: A former secondary school principal is poised to represent State Reform Party (STAR) to take on Datuk Masidi Manjun of Umno in Karanaan, Ranau.

Jalibin Paidi, 44, who quit as principal of SMK Entilibon last year, is said to have been given the nod as STAR candidate for Karanaan.

STAR Sabah chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is scheduled to announce STAR’s full list of candidates on Thursday to coincide with the launching of the party’s manifesto in Kota Kinabalu.

Also likely to be in the fray for Keranaan is Jalibin’s former boss, Sabah education director Muhidin Yusin, who only days ago joined Peninsular-based opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Muhidin’s possibility to be picked up by PKR as candidate despite his late entry however is said to have caused discontent within PKR.

Jalibin on the other hand has been campaigning under NGO United Borneo Front (UBF) for over one year and now is immensely popular in Ranau, riding on the STAR’s popular cry “Ini Kali Lah” and Jeffrey’s struggles coined under Borneo Agenda.

So far, Jalibin had not encountered any resistance from the largely Dusun community in the area, and in fact had been drawing support and strength from the ordinary folks to those in the public and business sector.

The plus point for BN in Keranaan, as in many other areas, is the failure of opposition parties to have a consolidated candidate to take on the national coalition.

A confident Jalibin, however, said the people would see the difference of STAR’s agenda from those of Peninsular parties of BN and Pakatan Rakyat once its manifesto is launched.

“I am confident the people will choose STAR as we fight for the return of Sabah glory as autonomous state with special rights within the country,” he said.