Hero or fool's errand? LDP takes on two titans in Sabah

SABAH POLLS | After the 2018 general election, things appeared dire for Sabah BN as parties quit the coalition as sailors would a sinking ship.

Faced with another electoral test on Sept 26, most of the Sabah BN parties that left have come together again, albeit under a looser PN-BN-PBS coalition called "Gabungan Rakyat Sabah".

PBRS returned to BN after Warisan Plus refused to take it in, PBS is aligned to BN even though no longer part of it and even SAPP which quit BN in 2008 is back as an ally under PN. Upko, however, is now with Warisan Plus.

The only exception is the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which joined the wave of departure after 2018 and has refused to align with either to the two major coalitions - Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan Plus.

LDP will be contesting 46 out of 73 seats in the upcoming Sabah election under its "orange torch" logo for the first time in 30 years.

LDP's plan is ambitious, considering its relatively small role when it was part of BN.

In the 2018 general election, Sabah BN assigned LDP to contest four Chinese-majority constituencies namely Likas, Tanjong Kapor, Merotai and Karamunting. It was defeated in all four seats.

Now aiming to be an independent third force, the predominantly Chinese party is also expanding into non-Chinese areas.

According to the LDP election director Chin Shu Ying, among the 46 seats, 12 are Chinese-majority and mixed seats, 13 are Muslim bumiputera seats, and 21 Kadazandusun-Murut (KDM) seats.

Only three of LDP's fielded candidates have experience contesting in an election including the party's honorary life president Chong Kah Kiat (photo).

The LDP was admitted into BN in 1991 and in 2001, Chong served a two-year stint as Sabah chief minister under a rotation system for the heads of Sabah BN component parties.

The rotational system was abolished when Umno's Musa Aman took over as chief minister in 2003 and Chong served as his deputy.

However, he had a falling out with Musa and resigned from the Sabah government in 2007, citing a "matter of principle". 

Chong, who was in charge of tourism, had been at loggerheads with Musa after the state government withdrew its approval to the Kudat Thean Hou Charitable Foundation to build a 108-feet "Goddess of the Sea" Statue.

Chong was the foundation's chairperson at the time. The dispute devolved into a feud and court case between Chong and Musa. 

Chong had kept a low-profile since the falling out in 2007.

But the 72-year-old making a come back was in part due to Liew Vui Keong who succeeded him as LDP party president in 2006, quitting the party in 2018 to join Warisan.

Now back as an honorary life president, Chong will be contesting the state seat of Inanam.

Inanam's incumbent is Kenny Chua Tech Ho, who defected from PKR to support Musa' failed coup against the Warisan-led Sabah government.

Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal, who ousted Musa in 2018, secured a dissolution of the state assembly, paving the way to fresh elections and thwarting Musa' bid to come back as chief minister.

Inanam will see a 10-corner fight, including PKR's Peto Galim and Chua, who will be returning as an independent candidate.

peaking to journalists at the LDP headquarters in Kota Kinabalu yesterday, Chong expressed optimism about his chances in the election despite a crowded field.

Chong believes Sabahans are fed up with the current political situation in the state and wants an alternative.

"The people's response towards LDP has been overwhelming," said Chong.

Meanwhile, LDP president Chin Su Phing, who will be contesting the state seat of Api-Api, said this will be his first time as an election candidate.

In his first electoral outing, Chin is already aiming big - to unseat incumbent Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew, who is also the state PKR chief.

Conceding that LDP is trying to move beyond its usual Chinese base, he said the people's disappointment that the state's interest was not being safeguarded cuts across racial lines.

"It's not only the Chinese, the Muslim and non-Muslim natives are also hoping for a change in this election," he said.

Chin is banking that voters will pick a Sabah-based party like LDP over the two main coalitions which both have involvement of national-level parties.

Already, LDP is pushing this narrative in their campaign, distributing fliers of caricatures featuring Shafie and his allies in Kota Kinabalu this morning.

The flier portrayed Shafie promoting Sabah's agenda but his PKR and DAP partners second-guessing and having to consult their national leaders.

Chin added that East Malaysian parties can be kingmakers. Likewise, he said the West Malaysia-based parties also have to turn to East Malaysia to form the federal government. 

Speculation has been rife that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin may call for a snap election soon to bolster his fragile majority in the Dewan Rakyat but the outcome of the Sabah election will likely guide his decision.

Muhyiddin had worked hard to try and avoid internal clashes in his PN-BN-PBS coalition but the component parties will still be clashing in 17 out of the 73 seats.

All eyes are now on whether Muhyiddin or Shafie will emerge victorious but LDP hopes to change that narrative.

Sabah voters will decide on Sept 26 if LDP will emerge as the unexpected hero or be cast into oblivion.

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- Mkini