Shafie Apdal tells voters to reject outsider Umno in Kimanis polls

KIMANIS POLLS | Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal has gone all out to urge the people to reject and block the resurgence of Peninsula-based BN/Umno via the Jan 18 Kimanis parliamentary seat by-election.

Without mincing his word, Shafie said Sabahans have enough of BN/Umno, which had ruled the state for decades.

"Enough is enough, it is time we take charge and manage our lives in the state. Sabah for Sabahans," he said when attending a Christmas and New Year celebration event at Pekan Membakut.

"Don't tell us what to do. Don't teach us what we want. We know what we want in Sabah," he said.

He said this based on the level of development in Sabah where basic amenities and utility infrastructures projects were uncompleted and dilapidated during BN era.

This was the message he repeatedly saying in several occasion on the nomination day and first-day campaign of Kimanis poll.

He said the Warisan-led state government, which faced financial constraint, is still struggling to improve and amend the infrastructure projects.

"I appeal to Sabahans to be a (real) Sabahan in your looks and your heart. Don't be someone with a Sabahan face but your heart is with Umno from Kuala Lumpur," he said.

"Prime Minister (Dr Mahathir Momahad) wants Umno die in Peninsula, how can Kimanis people want Umno (continue) to survive ?" he said.

This is the first by-election faced by Warisan. The previous Sandakan by-election held in the Borneo state was in Sandakan which involved Pakatan Harapan and DAP.

As for BN, it wish to continue its momentum of overwhelming victory in Tanjung Piai by-election to the Borneo state.

Other opposition parties were persuaded to make way for BN to contest in the seat.

BN/Umno, which was hit by a mass exodus of six of its MPs, nine state lawmakers and two Umno senators, planned to make a resurgence in Kimanis battle.

Only Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin and former state chief minister and Sungai Sibuga state assemblyperson Musa Aman are still in the party.

Umno established its Sabah chapter in February 1991.

The state government will be strong enough to fight for the right of Sabah with the federal government if it has the back of the people, according to Shafie.

"Nobody can look down at us and belittle our voices," he said.

Meanwhile, the state deputy chief minister Wilfred Madius Tangau (above) told the Christian community that PAS is more scarry if compare with Sabah Temporary Pass, which is known as PSS..

"For me, PSS is merely an administrative issue which we can resolve," he said.

"The people should not be afraid of PSS, but we should be afraid and be cautious with PAS," added Wilfred.

"Sabah should avoid (to get in touch) with some extreme quarters," he said.

September, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said temporary passes would be issued, from June 1 next year, to some 600,000 immigrants who have been living for decades in Sabah.

It was reported that the group comprises current holders of IMM13 issued to Filipino refugees who fled to Sabah in the 1970s, economic migrants with Burung-Burung cards in the 1980s, and those who registered under the Federal Special Task Force Banci (census) cards in the 1990s.

BN has expressed its opposition to the PSS.

Kimanis is a semi-urban seat of 29644 registered voters where 63.16 percent are Muslim bumiputera, 30.67 percent non-Muslim bumiputra, 3.59 percent Chinese and 2.58 percent others.

Kimanis is reportedly a predominantly Muslim bumiputera seat, where Muslims make up 65 percent of the 29,664 voters, while Kadazandusuns make up 28 percent.

The by-election was called after the Federal Court on Dec 2 last year upheld an Election Court ruling that nullified Anifah Aman's 2018 victory for the Kimanis parliamentary seat. - Mkini