SANDAKAN – A candidate in tomorrow’s Sabah state election fell into the Sulu Sea when the bridge he was crossing on foot while campaigning at a water village near here broke apart.
Parti Cinta Sabah’s (PCS) Alvis Loo Mun Yew who is running for the Karamunting seat plunged into the coastal water with his two aides.
When contacted, Loo said it was his second time campaigning at the settlement where residents had earlier complained to him about the faulty condition of the plankbridges there.
“Evidently that is true as now I got to experience it myself,” he said. “We hope that we will be given the mandate tomorrow so that we can help them (villagers).”
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.
The 42-second clip, spread widely on Facebook and WhatsApp, shows Loo and his assistants being helped by villagers after having fallen into the water.
Confirming the incident, Loo said that it happened at Kampung Karamunting Laut at about 9.30am.
He said he hoped to be voted in tomorrow so that he can help the people in the neighbourhood.
“It is in one of my manifestos. I will fight to get allocation to fix the basic infrastructure and facilities here. Not just bridges, but also roads here,” he said.
Loo said the incident will be an unforgettable experience for him and has made him even more determined to help the people.
He continued with his programme immediately after getting out of the water.
“Time is precious, especially on the last day of campaigning,” he said.
Loo said the people at the village were supportive of him, as they chanted “orang boleh jatuh, tetapi semangat dan bendera tidak boleh jatuh” (people can fall, but not the spirit and flag).
Loo is facing six other candidates in Karamunting, namely Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Chew Kok Woh, Parti Bersatu Sabah’s Kong Nyuk Thau, USNO’s Adam Chal, Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah’s Lee Tiang Yong, Liberal Democratic Party’s Ha Chuen Hoo, and Parti Warisan Sabah incumbent Hiew Vun Zin. - The Vibes, September 25, 2020.
