KOTA KINABALU – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is making an early start on plans to capture the Tuaran parliamentary seat even though a fresh general election has yet to be called.
PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, who made the call today, said work must start now as the party could not get an easy win in the opposition-held constituency.
“We cannot say it will be an automatic win for PBS, because although we have two of the four state seats under Tuaran, namely Tamparuli and Kiulu, the others being Sulaman and Pantai Dalit.
“If it is possible, you should begin work immediately after the AGM, but I trust, our machinery is ready. What is more important is that we are prepared anytime to take on Tuaran,” he said during the PBS Kiulu 36th and 37th Annual General Meeting in Kiulu today.
The current MP for Tuaran is Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau who won the seat while still in the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Tangau won the seat with a 7,624 vote-majority against Pakatan Harapan’s PKR candidate Chrisnadia Sinam in the 14th general election.
His victory was attributed to PBS and Umno, which won the state seats under the parliamentary seat – Kiulu (PBS), Tamparuli (PBS) and Sulaman (Umno).
But Upko switched sides to support Warisan and Pakatan Harapan a day after the 14th general election ended, paving the way for an election victory for the electoral partners in the state.
Upko joined Pakatan Harapan officially later while GRS-BN took power in Sabah after a state election was held in 2020.
Political pundits said Upko faces a difficult task in winning the seat in the forthcoming general election as the state seats are won by GRS-BN. – The Vibes, April 5, 2022
