SANDAKAN – Despite having lost in seven elections since 1986, Hamzah Abdullah has his sights set on his hometown of Batu Sapi, which will go to the polls on December 5.
The 66-year-old former Sabah Amanah chairman, who will run as an independent, told The Vibes that he opted out of the state election last month because he has been eyeing the federal seat.
His previous losses have been in different parliamentary and state constituencies, where he contested on various parties’ tickets.
The one-time state PAS commissioner said numerous promises to Batu Sapi residents have not been kept.
“Promise after promise, assurance after assurance have been given to Batu Sapi folk, but all ended up as broken promises. The fire victims in Kg Gas and Kg Pukat, and in other areas, were still residing in makeshift huts, container homes or squatting in relatives’ homes.
“The economic situation does not appear to be conducive, with youth unemployment on the increase.
“With my inclusion in this by-election, and my subsequent victory, it will open leaders’ eyes and make them committed to delivering their promises.”
Hamzah first stood in an election in 1986, representing PAS in the Jambongan (now Beluran) parliamentary seat. In 1990, he lost the contest for the Labuk state seat, where he stood on a United Sabah National Organisation ticket.
He was defeated in the now-abolished Gaya federal seat, where he again represented PAS, in 1999, and in Sekong – a state seat under Batu Sapi – in 2004.
In the 2013 general election, he was PAS’ candidate in Batu Sapi, and lost to incumbent Datuk Linda Tsen Thau Lin, who won with a 3,798-vote majority.
“I won more than 75% of the Chinese vote then, and I thank the Chinese voters. I humbly appeal to them to give me a second chance. I will be their voice in Parliament.”
In the 2018 general election, Hamzah, who was then with Pakatan Harapan component Amanah, gave Batu Sapi another shot. His participation was controversial, as PH ally Parti Warisan Sabah was also vying for – and eventually won – the seat.
Warisan’s Datuk Liew Vui Keong got 12,976 votes, and emerged tops with a 4,619-vote majority. Hamzah, meanwhile, got just 980 votes, losing his deposit.
In last year’s Sandakan by-election, held following the death of DAP’s Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt, Hamzah surprised many by throwing his hat in the ring as an independent.
The five-cornered fight saw victory going to Wong’s daughter, Vivian, who secured an 11,521-vote majority. Hamzah lost his deposit once more, getting a paltry 788 votes.
On Umno, Parti Cinta Sabah and the Liberal Democratic Party’s decision not to contest the upcoming Batu Sapi by-election over Covid-19 concerns, Hamzah said he appreciates their stance, calling it a good gesture.
“The critical situation Sabahans are in now, in view of the pandemic, is a blessing in disguise, in terms of educating politicians and political parties to emulate Singapore’s recent election, and that public rallies and the transporting of electorates should be a thing of the past.
“We can hold this by-election by doing away with public rallies. Having minibuses and other forms of public transport to ferry voters must be banned. The recent spike in Covid-19 cases in Batu Sapi is due to this reason.”
He was referring to the Ramai-Ramai cluster, which started with a bus driver who was on duty during the September 26 state election, and which, as of yesterday, had 105 infections.
The Batu Sapi by-election is necessitated by Liew’s death early this month. – The Vibes, October 13, 2020
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