PBS says Kimanis a sign of Warisan losing grassroot support

PBS president Maximus Ongkili says the by-election victory of Mohamad Alamin is an eye-opener for the ruling Warisan party.

KOTA KINABALU: The Kimanis by-election defeat suffered by the ruling Warisan party is a sign that it is losing grassroot support, said the opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today.

Party leader Maximus Ongkili said the victory of Barisan Nasional candidate Mohamad Alamin was “indeed a ‘tamparan hebat’ (big blow) and an eye opener to the Warisan state government.

He credited the Kimanis voters for having the bravery, wisdom and single-mindedness to vote against the ruling party Warisan. The result showed that Sabah voters could not be taken for granted, “neither can they be ‘bought’ with cash or kind, and promises”.

“We hope they (Warisan) realise that they are losing the Sabah grassroots, because of their broken promises and harmful policies especially on the implementation of the Sabah Temporary Pass,” said Ongkili.

He said the Kimanis voters had spoken and they had spoken for all Sabahans to stop the implementation of the controversial Temporary Sabah Pass plan, under which migrants living in Sabah will be issued the pass to replace three other identification documents.

“The victory is not only convincing, but also sweet, given that the Pakatan Harapan-Warisan Government applied all tactics and pressure, including threats and giving of goodies, as well as manipulating of stories and countless accusations against the opposition,” Ongkili said.

In the Kimanis by-election, Mohamad Alamin polled 12,706 votes against the 10,677 polled by Karim Bujang of Warisan, for a clear 2,029-vote majority.

BN wrested back the seat after its 2018 general election result was nullified by an election court on grounds of irregularities, on a petition filed by Karim, who had been narrowly defeated then. - FMT