For Sunday shoppers in Kota Kinabalu, Gaya Street is the place to be, where anything from brinjal to spanners and treatment for skin diseases are available.
Like bees to honey, Gaya Street shoppers are also the focus of five political parties contesting in four parliamentary and state seats around the state capital.
SAPP, PKR, DAP, Star and the BN party LDP were spotted distributing leaflets in the area, with cries of 'Ubah' and 'Autonomy' occasionally cutting through the din of the traders.
Like bees to honey, Gaya Street shoppers are also the focus of five political parties contesting in four parliamentary and state seats around the state capital.
SAPP, PKR, DAP, Star and the BN party LDP were spotted distributing leaflets in the area, with cries of 'Ubah' and 'Autonomy' occasionally cutting through the din of the traders.
"I don't support Star! I support DAP," one middle-aged woman who was spotted chatting with Star candidate for Likas Dr Felix Chong (right). But when this reporter told her that that DAP is not contesting for the state seat of Api-api where she is voting, she declared: "Then it's Star! Anything but Umno or BN".
She was then told that it is DAP's partner PKR that is contesting in Api-api, to which she said: "I'll support PKR."
In 2008, BN's Yee Moh Chai beat PKR's Christina Liew by a razor thin majority of 174 votes. They are battling it out again, but candidates from SAPP, Star and an Independent are joining the fray, making it a five-cornered fight.
'They are spoilers'
A few stalls away, a younger woman also expressed similar confusion.
Like many other traders and visitors at the street market, the woman, who only wants to be known as Shelley (left, in green), was seen reading a campaign leaflet. "It all looks pretty good to me, but whether it will happen, I don't know. It's easy to make sweet promises," she said.
The 35-year-old, who was seen perusing a DAP leaflet, is leaning towards the opposition, but she doesn't know who to vote for.
"If there was a one-on-one fight, it will be easier for us to choose. Now there are four in Luyang, where I vote. The other two parties are spoilers," she said, but just smiled when asked which two.
Who is more Sabahan?
Luyang's incumbent Melanie Chia won the seat for SAPP when it was still with BN in 2008. She is now up against DAP, BN and Star.
Would Shelley prefer local parties like SAPP and Star to represent her interest as a Sabahan?
"They claim to be local, but I noticed that they were all educated abroad. It's hard to say."
While some leaflets ended up in the bin, most people hung on to the many campaign materials they were handed, despite having their hands full with groceries.
Some skimmed through them before folding and putting them into their pockets, or bags, perhaps for a second look later.
Kota Kinabalu voters, although seemingly pro-opposition, have not truly decided and want to know what all the parties are offering.
The incumbent MP is DAP's Hiew King Cheu, who is now contesting the state seat of Luyang. Defending Kota Kinabalu for DAP is state chief Jimmy Wong.
Dr M's 'good deeds'
On the other side of Gaya Street, a man who only wanted to be known only as Woon, 73, shook hands with SAPP chief Yong Teck Lee, who came with an army of campaigners, all dressed in yellow.
"If it is a one-to-one fight, Yong will have a good chance of winning Likas. This LDP is useless. I call them the Lost Deposit Party," he later joked.
After voting for so many elections, Woon, who was there today to accompany his wife, who sells crackers, said he'll back the DAP candidate for Parliament.
"Things were different before. Today, the younger people feel betrayed by the older politicians, such as the beloved Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) who imported all sorts of nuisance into Sabah.
"You can see the effect of his good deeds in Lahad Datu."
Woon said he has known Yong since the 1980, but will this be enough to back the old-timer in his constituency of Likas?
"For state, we will have to see," he said.
"I hope I am wrong, but I am often rational when it comes to politics and I believe the BN will return to power in the state."
Would Shelley prefer local parties like SAPP and Star to represent her interest as a Sabahan?
"They claim to be local, but I noticed that they were all educated abroad. It's hard to say."
While some leaflets ended up in the bin, most people hung on to the many campaign materials they were handed, despite having their hands full with groceries.
Some skimmed through them before folding and putting them into their pockets, or bags, perhaps for a second look later.
Kota Kinabalu voters, although seemingly pro-opposition, have not truly decided and want to know what all the parties are offering.
The incumbent MP is DAP's Hiew King Cheu, who is now contesting the state seat of Luyang. Defending Kota Kinabalu for DAP is state chief Jimmy Wong.
Dr M's 'good deeds'
On the other side of Gaya Street, a man who only wanted to be known only as Woon, 73, shook hands with SAPP chief Yong Teck Lee, who came with an army of campaigners, all dressed in yellow.
"If it is a one-to-one fight, Yong will have a good chance of winning Likas. This LDP is useless. I call them the Lost Deposit Party," he later joked. After voting for so many elections, Woon, who was there today to accompany his wife, who sells crackers, said he'll back the DAP candidate for Parliament.
"Things were different before. Today, the younger people feel betrayed by the older politicians, such as the beloved Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) who imported all sorts of nuisance into Sabah.
"You can see the effect of his good deeds in Lahad Datu."
Woon said he has known Yong since the 1980, but will this be enough to back the old-timer in his constituency of Likas?
"For state, we will have to see," he said.
"I hope I am wrong, but I am often rational when it comes to politics and I believe the BN will return to power in the state."
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