TAWAU: Former Kukusan assemblywoman Datuk Rina Jainal has created a surprise by entering an independent candidate after being dropped by her party, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS-GRS).
Rina, accompanied by over 500 supporters, arrived at the nomination center at SJK (C) Yuk Chin around 8:05 am on Saturday to submit her papers.
She resigned from PHRS, claiming political sabotage, but vowed to defend her seat, saying grassroots supporters still backed her.
Kukusan’s race this year is a 10-corner contest, featuring four women candidates, including Chaya Sulaiman (UMNO-BN), Rina’s closest rival who won the seat by a slim 10 votes under Warisan in PRN16.
The race also sees a rare sibling contest, with Chaya facing her brother, former Kalabakan MP Ma’mun Sulaiman (Warisan).
Other candidates include Samsiah Usman (PHRS-GRS), Mariani Sulaiman (Anak Negeri), Hairul Amin Arif (Independent – Black Wave), Francis Lawrence @ Yusof (Bersatu-PN), Ishak Ismail (PPRS), Ab Rahman Yahya (STAR), and Razik Muyong (PIS).
By 12:05 pm, the Returning Officer confirmed that all 29 candidates across four DUNs in Kalabakan successfully submitted their nomination papers within the allotted period.