Big guns Najib and Mat Hasan to swoop into Sandakan

SANDAKAN POLLS | Two Umno stalwarts are expected in Sandakan to campaign for Parti Bersatu Sabah's Linda Tsen in the by-election.

According to Sabah Umno chairperson Bung Moktar Radin, Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan and the former president Najib Abdul Razak will be present, today and Friday, respectively.

Mohamad, who is the Rantau MP, is expected to deliver a speech at Bandar Letat Jaya at 9pm today, while the Pekan MP will be canvassing the voters at Giant Supermarket, IJM, at 4am on Friday - when his SRC International trial in the court in Kuala Lumpur takes a break.

Bung Moktar announced this to some 100 supporters at Jambatan 3, Kampung Sim Sim, yesterday.

"Later in the (May 8) evening, the vice-president (Mohamad) will meet the machinery and voters in Sandakan. His presence will give me more confidence, and boost the strength for PBS to win in the Sandakan by-election.

"God willing, 'bossku' will do his work as well. Maybe he will come to Giant IJM. He has no permit, (but he will) only go around for shopping. You can join him," Bung Moktar (above) said.

Najib made his first appearance during a by-election with the "bossku" persona during the Cameron Highlands by-election.

Barisan Nasional then went on to win three by-elections, consecutively, with the presence of "bossku" Najib.

However, for this Sandakan by-election, the Opposition is represented by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

BN is not contesting as PBS represents the opposition.

It is speculated locally that Najib will not cause the opposition to win in this by-election as well. This is because 51 percent of the Sandakan voters are Chinese and the vast majority of them are expected to vote for the DAP.

Najib’s presence will instead make an impact in the Malay area (with 16 percent of voters) and upon the Sabah bumiputeras who are Muslims and make up 26 percent of the Sandakan voters.

PBS candidate Linda Tsen is vying against DAP’s Vivian Wong and three other independents in this by-election.

This Saturday is the voting day for the Sandakan parliamentary seat. - Mkini