TAWAU: Sabah DAP Deputy Chairman Datuk Chan Foong Hin is confident it can win at least eight seats in the 17th State Election (PRN17) if given the space and opportunity.
He said besides being determined to defend its six current seats, the party is also aiming to recapture Sri Tanjong and Elopura, whose representatives left to join Warisan, with an overall target of between eight and 10 seats.
However, he added, this would depend on the party’s strategy as seat negotiations and candidate selection have yet to be finalised.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});The DAP National Policy Director also confirmed he would not be contesting in PRN17, saying he wanted to focus on his duties as Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament and as a Deputy Minister at the Federal level.
Moreover, Chan said, Tawau DAP had younger, capable leaders ready to be promoted.
“DAP has always had a team of new-generation leaders. I am already considered part of the veteran generation in Sabah and I will not be holding two seats at once. We (must) be fair,” he said.
Chan was the first DAP assemblyman to win the then-government’s (BN-PBS) traditional seat of Sri Tanjong.
Responding to a question, he described speculation that the State Election would be held on Sept 7, following the Prime Minister’s visit to the State, as rumours.
“I don’t even know the PM’s schedule, let alone when the Sabah Chief Minister might get the idea to dissolve (the Assembly). Whatever will come, will come. If they want to dissolve, just dissolve,” he said.
On reports that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) was seeking 50 seats while Pakatan Harapan (PH) wanted 23 seats, Chan stressed that the seat allocation negotiations were still ongoing and have yet to be finalised.
“Sometimes it’s said PH will contest 25 seats, sometimes 23. I don’t know myself. There’s no need to chase numbers because the negotiations are not yet complete,” he said.