P174 PENAMPANG
This is a 4-cornered fight between incumbent Datuk Darell Leiking (Warisan), Kenny Chua (GRS-Star), Datuk Ewon Benedict (Harapan-Upko), and an Independent, Richard Jimmy.
Darell last won it in 2018 on a Warisan ticket with a huge majority of 23,473 votes. That was quite a majority and, just like KK, would take a herculean task to unseat Darell, on paper at least.
In 2018, Darell defeated among others BN-Upko’s Caesar Mandela Malakun who has since joined Bersatu and is now a Political Secretary to the Chief Minister. The Upko candidate this time round is in-coming party president Datuk Ewon who uses the Harapan symbol compared to the BN symbol of 2018.
On paper, based on the 2018 results, Ewon would be no match for Darell. But that was 2018. This is 2022 and things have changed. If in 2018 anybody could have defeated a BN candidate as the anti-Najib sentiment then was so high.
This time round, Upko has left BN and is now a component of Pakatan Harapan (PH) led by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim who needs no introduction in Malaysian politics. It must be remembered that PH won GE14 in 2018 and actually formed the Malaysian government. But its 5-year term was short-lived when it was ‘overthrown’ in 2020. The young and educated may symphatize with them, bearing in mind that 18 and above can vote now and it is automatic registration. But that is just my theory and of course I may be wrong.
Darell’s Warisan may say that they are the only true local party now fighting for Sabahans through this election as BN, PH and PN’s ‘parent companies’ are all in KL.
But Warisan cannot run away from the fact that they were part of the PH federal government for 22 months. Infact, Dr Mahathir was generous by giving it 3 full ministers’ post although it was not officially a PH component. Also, for argument sake, if neither BN, PH or PN has the majority to form the government on its own after Nov 19, you think Warisan would shy away from being part of the federal government? Being in the house is better than out in the cold and it was for this reason that Warisan accepted PH’s offer in 2018. This is just in theory. I may of course be wrong.
So how will the Penampang people vote this time? Will they retain Darell or will they give Anwar a chance to be the PM by electing Ewon? Only time can tell. Some say that two terms is enough for Darell, try a new face for a change. But that’s up to the Penampang people.
Some also say that Ewon is already Assemblyman for Kadamaian and may not find the time to be Penampang MP. I beg to differ. Datuk Christina Liew was both Tawau MP and Api Api Assemblyman plus being a Minister and yet she could cope. It can be done.
Ewon’s father was from Penampang and buried there. He spent part of his childhood in Penampang and attended St Michael Secondary School. Recently, he had a reunion with his classmates.
Although I do not know Ewon personally, I do know for a fact that even at a young age he spoke eloquently, articulately and influentially which paved the way for his smooth rise in politics. For example, I remember there was one occasion many years ago when he was still an Upko youth leader and Musa was still the CM.
There was one political function which Musa attended and in which Ewon spoke. He impressed Musa so much that even the then CM praised him later. Little wonder that out of the one dozen Upko candidates in 2020, he was the only one who won. Full stop.
When Upko President Tangau learnt that Ewon was adamant in wanting to challenge him for the party president, he agreed to make way honourably. That was magnanimously on the part of Tangau, for any fight for the presidency would split the party in two especially at a time when it is facing an election.
Now we come to the GRS-Star candidate, Kenny Chua.
Kenny and Darell go back a long way. There were party colleagues many years ago when Darell was still in PKR. When Darell stood as a PKR candidate in Penampang in 2013 and won, I believe Kenny played a part.
After Darell left PKR for Warisan, Kenny kept the PKR flag flying. However, in 2018 Kenny stood as the PKR candidate in Inanam to avoid a clash with Warisan in Penampang and Moyog as they were partners. Kenny won in Inanam and the rest is history.
After the 2018 election in which the parliamentary and state elections were held simultaneously, Darell was made a Federal Minister while Kenny an Assistant Minister in Sabah.
However, just before the 2020 State election, Kenny dumped the Warisan+ government and threw his weight behind Musa in the so-called failed “coup”. He stood in Inanam that year as an Independent candidate but just days before polling he aligned himself with Star. He didn’t win but didn’t lose his deposit either. He got more votes than a former Chief Minister in the crowded field.
So how will the Penampang people vote this time? Darell or Ewon or Kenny? Will Ewon be able to create an upset and redeem Upko’s pride? It will be interesting to watch. As they say, as in football, the ball is round.
P175 PAPAR
It is a 6-cornered fight between incumbent Ahmad Hassan (Warisan), Datuk Armizan Ali (GRS-Bersatu), Henry Shim (Harapan), Nicholas Sylvester (Pejuang), and two Independents – Datuk Norbert Chin and Jonny Sitamin.
In 2018, Ahmad won with only a slim majority of 325 meaning he is not that invincible and if not one village didn’t vote for him he would have lost. He polled 17,394 votes while his closest opponent, lawyer Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin of BN-Umno got 17,069 votes, a close fight.
This time round, Ahmad is not facing BN-Umno but GRS’ Armizan who is reasonably well-known and influential in Papar. Before BN lost 2018, if I am not mistaken he was Director of the now disbanded BTN (Biro Tata Negara) whose training camp is in Kundasang. From left: Alamin, Dr Daud, Siti and Matbali.
After the formation of Bersatu in Sabah 2019, he was made Executive Secretary at the State party headquarters. He later became Special Officer or Political Secretary to Datuk Rina Harun, a Federal Minister and head of Bersatu’s women wing in Kuala Lumpur.
It was partly because of this background that he was made Senior Private Secretary to the Chief Minister beginning early 2021. He comes from a large family (keluarga besar) in Papar and has relatives from both the Muslim and Kadazan communities, including Limbahau Assemblyman Datuk Juil Nointin.
Norbert is a senior lawyer. He is from Kinarut under Kawang which is one of the State constituencies under Papar. If I am not mistaken, he is a former SAPP vice-president or senior member.
Does Armizan or Norbert have what it takes to defeat Awang who is seeking re-election and redeem BN-GRS’ pride, we will find out soon enough.
P176 KIMANIS
It is a 5-cornered fight between incumbent Datuk Mohamad bin Hj Alamin (BN-Umno), Dr Daud Yusof (Warisan), Yusop Osman (Pejuang), Rowindy Lawrence Odong (PH-Upko) and Amat Yusof (KDM).
Mohamad won through a by-election in early 2020 if I am not mistaken.
The by-election was caused by the Courts declaring Umno’s Anifah Aman’s 2018 victory null and void. Anifah who did not seek re-election threw his weight behind Mohamad.
Mohamad won with a majority of 2,029 votes. This is in sharp contrast to Anifah’s slim majority of 156 in 2018. Mohamad defeated Warisan’s Karim Bujang who was also beaten by Anifah in 2018. Mind you, when Mohamad beat Karim, Warisan was the State Government and BN was the opposition in Sabah.
In the by-election, Mohamad got 12,706 votes whereas Karim got 10,677 votes in a straight fight.
Kimanis consists of the State seats of Bongawan and Membakut. Interestingly, both Mohamad and Karim are former Bongawan Assemblymen. Mohamad was Assemblyman from 2013 until 2018 when he was beaten by Warisan’s Daud.
So this is a ‘rematch’ of sorts between Mohamad and Daud. Mohamad was a lawyer before he entered politics while Daud was a Vetenirary Doctor. After winning Bongawan in 2013, Mohamad was the Chariman of the Sabah Native Affairs Council until BN lost in 2018.
After Warisan’s victory in 2018, Dr Daud became an Assistant Minister and appropriately in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Inudstry. ‘Appropriately’ because the Ministry is in charge of the Veterinary Services Department in which Dr Daud served before.
So, as the Chinese would say, “The deer would die in whose hands?”. We will know after Nov19.
Meanwhile, an interesting feature of the battle in Kimanis this time is the emergence of two former District Officers as candidates. They are Yusop Osman and Amat Yusof. Apparently both are locals from Kimanis and both are of Brunei descent or at least have Brunei blood.
In order to win Kimanis, you must have Brunei blood although this is not a must. Amat ever served as Papar DO before being posted to Lahad Datu. I am not sure if Yusop ever serve as Papar DO but before he retired he was Keningau DO.
You see, this is funny. Kimanis consists of two State seats – Bongawan and Membakut. Administratively, Bongawan is under Papar but Membakut is under Beaufort. I am not sure if Bongawan is a sub-district of Papar but Membakut is a sub-district of Beaufort.
But this anomaly will soon be over, as the Chief Minister just announced on Friday that the State Cabinet has approved that Membakut will soon be upgraded to a full district, no more under Beaufort.
But whether this new district of Membakut will include Bongawan or at least the small township of Kimanis remains to be seen. It is the policy of the Election Commission that as far as possible, the name of the parliamentary constituency should be the same as the district’s name.
At the moment, the Papar district also includes the State seats of Kawang (essentially Kinarut), Limbahau, Pantai Manis (essentially Papar town). So after the district of Membakut comes into being, it is only logical that it includes Bongawan. Otherwise, Papar will be too big and Membakut too small.
The present Membakut Assemblyman is Datuk Dr Arifin Arif who is of Brunei descent. Membakut is essentially Brunei ‘country’. Arifin is son-in-law of former CM Musa Aman.
P177 BEAUFORT
This constituency sees six candidates who do not include the incumbent, Datuk Seri Panglima Azizah DSP Mohd Dun.
Azizah won the seat in 2018 on a BN/Umno ticket but later joined Bersatu and is its Sabah Wanita head. Sabah Umno succeeded in reclaiming the seat in its negotiations with Bersatu recently.
In 2018, Azizah a former Sabah Minister and Federal Deputy Minister won with a majority of 3,331 votes. She polled 11,354 votes to beat her nearest rival Datuk Lajim Ukin of Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah who received 8,023 votes.
A third candidate, Datuk John Ghani of PKR polled 7,835 votes. John who has since left PKR is standing again in this election as an Independent. He is a veteran politician in the Beaufort/Kuala Penyu area and once served as Kuala Penyu Assemblyman after winning as an Independent.
John is facing Datuk Siti Aminah Aching (BN-Umno), Datuk Hjh Johair Mat Lani (KDM), Masri Adul (Warisan), Dikin Musah (PH), and another Independent, Matlani Sabli.
One interesting fact is that two women candidates have Datuk titles.
Siti Aminah became a Datuk after BN-GRS became the government after the 2020 election.
After Azizah and Klias Assemblyman Datuk Isnin Aliasnih left Umno for Bersatu after the 2018 election, Siti has been holding the fort for Umno Beaufort.
It was because of her loyalty to the party that she was made a Datuk and now chosen as a candidate for BN-GRS, taking over from Bersatu. She seems to be a popular grass root leader not only among Umno members but also local Muslims. If I am not mistaken, a few months ago she defeated Azizah for the Women Wing Leader post of the United Sabah Islamic Association (USIA).
The other woman candidate, Johair, was a Warisan leader in Beaufort when the party was in power. It was during Warisan’s reign that she got her Datukship. She is aligned to former Warisan leader Datuk Peter Anthony which explains her candidacy for KDM in Beaufort.
I don’t know much about the Warisan and PH candidate. I just assume that the match is between the two women Datuks who are equally influential in Beaufort.
As for John, he may get some votes from Kuala Penyu where he ever won as an Independent but may face an uphill battle in Klias. Beaufort is made up of Kuala Penyu and Klias.
P178 SIPITANG
This is a 3-way fight between GRS’ Datuk Matbali Musah, PH’s Lahirul and Warisan’s Datuk Adnan OKK Puteh.
The incumbent is Datuk Yamani Hafez Musa who won it on a BN-Umno ticket in 2018 with a majority of 852 votes. His closest rival was Noor Hayaty binti Mustapha of Warisan who polled 11,186 votes.
Yamani left Umno and joined Bersatu in 2019, receiving his membership personally from then PM Dr Mahathir.
After Ismail Sabri became PM, he was made Deputy Finance Minister. He has been a Deputy Minister for only slightly over a year.
It is therefore puzzling why he is not seeking re-election as reported especially because Sipitang is given back to Bersatu through GRS to contest although Umno tried to stake a claim on the grounds that it was won on their ticket.
Back to this election, Matbali won the State seat of Lumadan near Beaufort in 2018 on an Umno and later left for Bersatu. In the 2020 State election, Lumadan was ‘returned’ to Umno whose candidate however lost. The winner was a PBS candidate, Datuk Ruslan Muharam.
However, after the formation of the GRS-BN government, Matbali was appointed as the all-powerful Director of the Community Development Unit (PPM) who is in charge of all the 73 PPM in the State. He was also given a Datukship. From left: Adnan, Jonathan and Ebin
Never mind what is the actual reason for Yamani not seeking re-election, Matbali’s loyalty to the party paid off when he was chosen as a candidate.
But can he win? His main opponent is expected to be the Warisan candidate, a senior lawyer.
However, Adnan with due respect is a new face while Matbali has been doing his ground work through his PPM boys in Sindumin and Lumadan which make up Sipitang. But Adnan’s family does have some influence in Sipitang. His father was an OKK (District Chief).
Sindumin was won by Datuk Dr Yusof Yaacob of Warisan in 2018 following which he was made a Minister. The former Sipitang MP and former Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat has since left Warisan and joined Umno. He was present when CM Hajiji campaigned for Matbali in Sipitang recently.
Speaking in Sipitang, Hajiji announced that should Matbali win and GRS is part of the Federal Government, Matbali’s name will be submitted as a candidate for Deputy Minister.
Also present when CM was in Sipitang was former Sindumin Assemblyman Datuk Jamilah of PBS at that time. She did dump PBS 2-3 years ago for Warisan but obviously is supporting Matbali’s candidacy now. Don’t know which party she belongs to now, if any.
Also present during the Ceramah was Lumadan Assemblyman Datuk Ruslan of PBS. Things are looking good for Matbali.
P179 RANAU
This is a 5-cornered fight between the incumbent, Datuk Jonathan Yasin (GRS-Bersatu), Taufik Dahlan (Harapan), Aziul Juliran (Pejuang), Markos Situn (Warisan) and Datuk Ewon Ebin (PBRS).
Jonathan won the Ranau seat in 2018 on a PKR ticket and a majority of 1,076 votes. He later defected to Bersatu together with former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali. Since March 2020 when Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin became PM, he has been the Deputy Home Minister, quite a powerful post considering the Ministry controls among others the Police, RELA, Immigration and the National Registration Department.
This will be a rematch of sorts between Jonathan and Ewon. In 2018, Jonathan polled 14,880 votes while Ewon obtained 13,804 votes.
Ewon then was the candidate for BN-Upko. Considering that 2018 was a year when anti-BN sentiments were high, Ewon didn’t do too badly.
The year 2018 also saw sweet revenge for Jonathan because in 2013 he lost to Ewon. Still standing on a PKR ticket, the lawyer (if I am not wrong) polled 11,823 votes against the 15,434 votes obtained by BN-Upko candidate Ewon, also a lawyer and a former Magistrate.
Will Ewon be able to extract revenge this time round? We will find out soon enough. It is noteworthy that this time Ewon is standing on a PBRS ticket. But PBRS is a component of BN and Ranau has been given to GRS who is supposed to be working closely with BN.
Sabah BN Bung has said that Ewon does not have BN’s blessings but his name is already on the ballot paper. Too late to backout anyway.
The situation here is a bit tricky because in Beluran, Kiandee is defending his seat on a PN ticket although Beluran has been allocated to BN-Umno. PN is the ‘Parent Company’of Bersatu of which Kiandee is vice-president.
So far no one has demanded that action be taken against PBRS or Ewon because people can also demand action on PN or Kiandee.
Jonathan is a veteran of sorts as far as Ranau election is concerned. As early as 2008, he was already a PKR candidate. He was still new at that time and managed only 6,823 votes. The winner was the late Datuk Siringan Gubat @ Aliance of BN-Upko who polled a massive 14,074 votes.
Between Ewon and Siringan, they exchanged roles as Ranau MP and Assemblyman at least once. Siringan, after winning an Assembly seat, replaced Ewon as State Minister who became a Federal Minister.
However, only Ewon had the distinction of having been both a Federal and State Minister.
Siringan, a university graduate, passed away just before the 2020 State election and when he was still a State Minister. May his soul rest in peace.
Now let us go to the other Ranau candidates for this election. First the Warisan candidate Markos Sirun. He is a retired senior civil servant. His last post was as Director of the Human Resource Department, I think. If I am not mistaken, this is first election debut.
Despite so, Markos comes from a ‘political family’. His late sister, Julianah Situn @ Widya Julia, was the Star candidate for Ranau in 2013.
Although she lost, I don’t think she lost her deposit as she got more than 2,500 votes.
Star as we all know is led by Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan from its early days when Star was still in the Opposition when BN was the State government. Julianah was an aide of Jeffrey starting from the time when she was a senior officer in Yayasan Sabah and Jeffrey the Director.
Now the Warisan candidate. He has a long name but commonly known as Taufik Dahlan.
Taufik is also a retired senior civil servant. He started his career upon graduation with the Information Department.
He was with the Press Division of the Department in KL in 1984. That year, the late Datuk Dr James Ongkili was given the additional portfolio of Justice Minister by PM Dr M.
Being a new Ministry, Ongkili was entitled to another set of personal aides. He transferred me from the Prime Minister’s Department where I was Press Secretary to the Ministry to become Private Secretary.
Taufik was seconded from the Department to be the Press Secretary in the Ministry. When I came back to Sabah for good in late 1985, Taufik replaced me as Private Secretary.
After Ongkili, Taufik went on to serve two other Sabahan Ministers in KL. If my memory does not fail me, they were Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and the then Tan Sri Sakaran Dandai.
When Sakaran became Sabah CM, Taufik was appointed his Press Secretary. When Datuk Salleh replaced Sakaran as CM, I replaced Taufik as Press Secretary. Taufik was made Director of Protocol.
I don’t know when Taufik left the civil service or what his last post was. All I know is that after his retirement he settled down in his hometown Ranau.
I think he started a small resort-type hotel/motel in his village Lohan on the way to the Hotsprings. There is a hall in the resort and over the years many politicians rented it for their functions.
The Pejuang candidate, Azizul Julirin, is a UMS graduate. I suspect that he had difficulty in finding a job after graduation and decided to retrun to his native Kundasang to into modern farming. Kundasang is one of the State constituencies under Ranau and it lies in between the Kinabalu Park and Ranau town.
The young and adventurous Azizul became a successful modern farmer or agro-entrepreneur if you like and his famous Kundasang Aquafarm was visited by many VIPs both during the administration of Warisan+ and the present BN-GRS governments.
By the way, Jonathan also comes from a “political family”. His elder sister is Datuk Amisah Yassin, a Nominated Assemblywoman.
A veteran politician who got involved in politics since the early 80s through Usno, she was Political Secretary to Datuk Masidi Manjun when the latter was Tourism Minister before the 2108 election.
A former Wanita Umno Ranau leader, she is now Deputy Head of the Wanita Bersatu Sabah.
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