GE14 | For incumbent Kiulu state assemblyperson Joniston Bangkuai, his conscience is clear. He has done all he can for the people of Kiulu in the last five years after becoming their representative.
"Much has changed over the last five years, I can tell you," said Bangkuai to Malaysiakini.
The Parti Bersatu Sabah leader pointed out a number of developments in Kiulu: How 2,200 land titles had since been given out; how a new road passing through Kiulu from Kota Kinabalu to Ranau is set to be built; Kiulu's current status as a subdistrict; and the jump in the number of tourists in the past few years.
"To me it's about continuing what we have done over the last five years, we have laid the foundation and we want to continue the efforts.
"(All these happened during) my time," added Bangkuai.
The explanation of the BN component party leader was a response to his opponent, Parti Warisan Sabah Wirawati deputy chief Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas, who had lamented the lack of change in the hilly constituency.
Rampas (photo) - a law graduate and a former Unduk Ngadau (harvest festival) beauty queen - had grown up in Kiulu until she was nine years of age before moving to Penampang.
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Rampas had cited a news report which described Kiulu as a "sleepy town" located at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu.
"I felt sad reading it. It's true, but I was sad, it doesn't have to be that case.
"People have to know where Kiulu is. As far as I'm concerned, there's not much change since I was a schoolgirl, only a couple of buildings here and there, the hall used to be yellow and now it's purple," she said with a wry smile.
Rampas praised Kiulu for its high potential to be developed as an ecotourism site. However, she lamented that despite being known as the go-to place for white-water rafting, people still do not know where Kiulu is.
"Hopefully if Warisan becomes the government, I will push for this and say we have to modernise so people will know where Kiulu is.
Bangkuai, however, pointed out how Kiulu had been chosen as a model for rural tourism.
"What does this mean? There will be more upgrading of infrastructure and all sorts of things.
"The first three months of this year, we recorded about 23,000 visitors. There is a strong possibility we may record up to 100,000 visitors to Kiulu this year," said Bangkuai, who is also the former New Straits Times regional editor for Sabah and Sarawak.
Debating rural development
Kiulu is located about 50 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu.
Consisting of over 20,000 constituents from 105 villages, about 70 percent of the population are farmers.
Warisan’s Rampas had noted that due to the focus on agriculture, highest on the list of grouses were the falling price of rubber and the Goods and Services Tax.
"And they've been asking for their land titles, some have been asking since the 1970s and have not received it until now.
"I understand the chief minister recently came to give 1,043 land titles through the fast-track programme in March, this year. So my question is, why two months before the election?"
Bangkuai, however, argued that efforts to ensure that the people received their land titles had started three years ago.
"It will definitely take time for the land titles to be ready and we wanted the chief minister to come because he helped us in securing funds for this.
"Is it wrong for us to wait for the chief minister to give away the land titles? We appreciate leaders who help us, what's wrong with that?"
Bangkuai could not help but hit out at Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal, whom he said only came to the area when he was no longer a minister.
"When he was the minister (of rural and regional development), he never set foot here.
"Kiulu is a rural area, we badly need development, roads, clean water (but) he never came. When he's no longer in power, he started to come and say all sorts of things."
Kiulu - hungry for change?
In the upcoming general election, Kiulu will see a four-cornered fight involving Bangkuai, Rampas, Parti Cinta Sabah's Gaibin Ransoi and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku's (Star) Terence Sinti.
Bangkuai had won the seat with a majority of 44 votes in the last general election, defeating PKR's Rhodes Panilau, Sinti and two others.
Despite this being her electoral debut, Rampas believes she stand a good chance in winning the seat, citing her youth and her belief that the people of Kiulu are "hungry for change".
"I go down and I listen to them and they say 'we want to change this time, we will go for another option'.
"So I tell them 'let's try for five years, if you don't like me, just throw me, you have the power to make the change'."
Rampas also cited the wafer-thin majority Bangkuai received in the last general election.
"It's so thin. The question is, how is he going to stand again in this election? As far as I'm concerned, the person he went against is now with me in Warisan,” she said.
Rampas was referring to Rhodes bin Panilau, who had contested against Bangkuai for the Kiulu seat in the 2013 general election. He had represented PKR then but had since switched to Warisan.
"My point is, I don't think there's going to be a lot of change from the previous votes.
"Looking at all aspects, I think there's a good chance for us to not only win Kiulu but the whole state and hopefully the whole of Malaysia," she added.
Bangkuai: ‘I’m confident, honestly’
Despite winning with only 44 majority votes, Bangkuai said he still managed to scrape through when other surrounding constituencies had fallen to the opposition.
And there were so many factors at play at the time that were reasons for his dismal performance in the last election, he said.
"There are reasons for that, she knows very well. I was asked to contest at the very last minute, they had already announced the candidate, and they decided to change.
"I had zero (preparation and support) in 2013. Compared to now, I have an excellent working relationship with the (BN) component parties, I have my election machinery in full gear, we have done all these things a year ago.
"The opposition are so divided ... So how can they ever succeed in winning Kiulu? I'm confident, honestly," said Bangkuai.
Bangkuai replaced Rampas' uncle, Louis Rampas as BN's candidate at the 11th hour in the 2013 election. The elder Rampas had been a three-term assemblyperson of Kiulu.
Born in Kiulu from a "very poor family", Bangkuai said he even used to be a rubber tapper and was used to going to the paddy fields to grow rice.
"I went through hardship and I know exactly what needed to be done and I'm really happy as a journalist who used to write about all these things, I'm really happy that I have this opportunity.
"Nothing satisfies you than doing something good for the people. Until now I don't see myself as a politician.
"I'm in the business of delivering. I'm not in the business of making empty promises and making all sorts of criticism on other people," stressed Bangkuai. - Mkini
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