'Abstaining from Article 1(2) amendment vote, yet campaigning for Sandakan?'

SANDAKAN POLLS | Those who did not vote for the constitutional amendment regarding Sabah and Sarawak’s status have no right to ask for votes from the people of Sandakan, said Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Sandakan voters also know who to choose, come by-election day on May 11, the Sabah chief minister told reporters when met after a walkabout at the Ramadan bazaar in Taman Indah Jaya.

While he did not mention names, Shafie is believed to have been referring to Sabah Umno chairperson Bung Moktar Radin, who has promised to mobilise 9,700 Umno members to vote for Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidate Linda Tsen on polling day.

Bung was one of the MPs who had abstained from voting in the Dewan Rakyat on April 9 on the amendment of Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.

The vote saw the House failing to obtain the two-thirds majority, or 148 votes, needed to restore Sabah and Sarawak to their original status as enshrined in Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

A total of 138 MPs had voted for the amendment, while 59 MPs, including those from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, abstained.

Shafie was responding when asked whether his party Warisan, which is an ally of Pakatan Harapan, can bring in the votes for DAP, amid the battle for Malay-Muslim votes with the opposition.

"We are not saying we are worried. We are not complacent. But I am quite sure, I think Sabahans know what to do.

"These are the people who have been there, who did not vote for the constitutional amendment, and now they are campaigning protecting the interests of Sabahans.

"Imagine that they want to protect Sabah's rights, but they don't vote for it in Parliament, how are we supposed to trust them?" he asked.

Elaborating, Shafie said the voters in Sandakan are wise enough to make the right choice in the polls.

"The people of Sandakan are wise. Their wisdom will not be swayed by the presence of Umno leaders. One should not just look at this from the Harapan government angle. Also, remember that this is a Warisan-led government," he added.

The Sandakan by-election is being held following the death of Stephen Wong due to a heart attack on March 28. - Mkini