KOTA MARUDU: Comments from opponents calling him “a sick man” and advising that he retire have not hampered Parti Bersatu Sabah President-cum-Kota Marudu MP Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili from going all out in his campaigns.
At one point, supporters chuckled when he jokingly told them: “I may be 69, but I can still run from the dogs if they charge at me,” as he made a running gesture on stage.
He also assured supporters that he had sought medical advice prior to making the decision to join the fray.
“Before I made my decision (to contest), I did medical check-ups, went to the IJN (National Heart Foundation) and discussed with specialists. Thank God, they told me I am well and fit to go for the campaigns.
“So, here I am, ladies and gentlemen, at your service,” Ongkili, who suffered a stroke in July 2020, told the crowd.
Ongkili, who is flying the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) flag, is in a six-corner fight, with four of his opponents from political parties and one independent, for the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat.
His contenders are Datuk Wetrom Bahanda of Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM), Sharizal Denci (Malaysia United Democratic Alliance), Datuk Jilid Kuminding (Parti Warisan Sabah), Pejuang Tanah Air’s Mohd Azmie Zulkiflee and sole independent candidate, Norman Tulang.
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