Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan will field a mixed bag of candidates in 52 parliamentary seats during the coming 15th General Election (GE15), of which 26 are for peninsula seats and the rest in Sabah and Labuan.
Its President Datuk Seri Shafie Mohd Apdal said more than half of the Sabah and Labuan candidates are fresh faces and the rest incumbents and experienced contenders.
For Sabah, Warisan would field five women, while the youngest is 28.
“There is a mix of young and old, there must be a combination. We present younger candidates and also experienced ones that are knowledgeable,” he told a press conference after handing them the offer letters, Thursday.
They comprise engineers, lawyers, former officers and master degree holders. The party would also field Shafie’s younger brother Datuk Yusof Apdal for the Lahad Datu seat. Yusof was Lahad Datu Assemblyman from 1985 to 1989.
Incumbents who are set to contest their seats include Shafie himself (Semporna), Moyog Assemblyman Datuk Darell Leiking (Penampang), Warisan Wirawati Chief Isnaraissah Munirah (Kota Belud), Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman (Sepanggar) and Ma’mun Sulaiman (Kalabakan)
Former Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli would be defending his seat while Sekong Assemblyman Alias Sani would contest in Batu Sapi which was previously held by late Law Minister Liew Vui Keong. The youngest candidate is lawyer KC Chen for the Tawau seat while Amanda Yeo, 29, would contest the Kota Kinabalu seat.
Other candidates include Jo-Anna Sue Henly Rampas (Tuaran), Rashi Abdul Harun (Kudat), Datuk Jilid Kuminding (Kota Marudu), Ahmad Mohd Said (Putatan), Alex Thien (Sandakan), Mohd Ismail Ayob (Kinabatangan) and Ahmad Hassan (Papar).
Also contesting are Dr Daud Yusuf (Kimanis), Masri Adul (Beaufort), Datuk Adnan Puteh (Sipitang), Markos Siton (Ranau), Rasinin Kautis (Keningau), Ukim Buandi (Tenom), Siti Noorhasmahwaty Osman (Pensiangan), Rowiena Rasid (Beluran) and Sh Bokrata Sh Hassan (Libaran).
For the Perak constituency, Shafie announced that Leong Cheok Lung, a property developer, would contest the Kampar seat while Leong Cheok Keng, a lawyer, the Malim Nawar seat. Rahim Awang would contest the Kapar seat in Selangor.
Shafie said as a local party, it should not be underrated by other national political parties. “Some say this party is not government material, but how do you know?
“Do not underrate us, it is the rakyat that is going to decide…we (Warisan) are not position-hungry. We just want to rectify the current situation and to provide more choices for Malaysians.
“Some parties may opt for coalitions and there have been many coalitions, but even so, these coalitions are fighting over positions and when the ministerial positions are not enough, they will split again.
“This is a political disaster for Malaysia and Warisan is providing a more stable political scenario by having a single multiracial party.
“Look at the United Kingdom, you only have a choice of three parties – Labour, Conservative and Liberal, but the issues raised are inflation, security, health and economy, among others,” he said, adding this is what the nation’s political landscape should be.
“This is what we should do – a progressive way forward by the people and the leaders, as well as the politicians.”
He said the people and the country should not be dragged into a drama of fighting over positions in the government.
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