SABAH POLLS | United Sabah National Organisation's (Usno) N56 Tanjong Papat candidate Mohd Yunus Apil is banking on the party's history and cultural identity in his seven-cornered contest to revive its legacy.
The 32-year-old branded himself as a young local candidate with a passion to reignite one of Sabah's oldest parties, founded by its third chief minister Mustapha Harun in 1961 and at its height led the state government from 1967 to 1975.
In his walkabout at the Sandakan market this morning, Yunus (above) repeatedly asked the older traders what they remembered about Usno, and many responded with fond anecdotes from the 1970s.
"Usno is an old party but now with new candidates.
"This is the time for us to revive it (Usno)... InsyaAllah, after so long it has been neglected," he said while he and his team distributed campaign flyers and free face masks.
The original Usno was de-registered in 1996 and later came back in its current form in 2013.
Its candidates' attempt to contest in the 14th general election was thwarted after they were reportedly scammed by an individual allegedly responsible to coordinate their nomination process.
Aside from the party's history, Yunus also approached Malay-bumiputera traders at the market with an ethnic pitch - being a local boy from Kampung Sim-Sim and how it is now time for one of their own to represent the area.
He later told reporters that support for Usno appeared to be encouraging, not only in Tanjong Papat but also in the other constituencies.
The revived Usno under the leadership of former Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia is contesting 44 seats in this state election.
"Support from the old, support from the young, they were very positive towards Usno," Yunus said.
While firm on his plans for Usno's core Muslim-bumiputera supporters, the candidate appeared less sure when quizzed on how he would address developmental issues, including in the area of his floating villages.
"About the funds, first I need support and prayers from all, particularly in the floating villages.
"The RM4 million allocation from government, I am not too sure, but what I know is we need to understand the problems more," Yunus said.
He then went on to reaffirm plans to address a shortage of Muslim cemeteries in Tanjong Papat through engagement with the local town council.
Yunus said this when asked for a response to DAP's Tanjong Papat incumbent Frankie Poon's comments yesterday that infrastructure upgrades in the floating villages were stalled after the PN federal government allegedly cancelled funds approved by the previous Harapan administration.
Sandakan MP Vivian Wong also revealed that the allegedly cancelled funds for repair work in Jambatan 1 to Jambatan 24, Kampung Sim-Sim, amounted to RM4.2 million.
Yunus is a Sim-Sim native from Jambatan 2, where the local Usno division had set up a base to support his candidacy.
Located just three kilometres from the Sandakan city centre, Sim-Sim - one of nine voting districts in Tanjong Papat - had 2,208 registered voters as of GE14.
On Day 3 of the campaigning in the Sabah state election, only Yunus and Poon have so far made their presence felt in Tanjong Papat, with barely any flags raised for the other contenders.
Polling for the Sabah election will be held on Sept 26. - Mkini
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