KOTA KINABALU – Water issues, illegal immigration, and unemployment woes will make it tough for the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) alliance to wrest the industrial constituency of Sepanggar from the clutches of bitter rival Warisan.
Quaintly enough, it will also be tough for Warisan to retain the seat, as sentiment on the ground appears to be demanding a local from Sepanggar – which is just 10 minutes’ drive from state capital Kota Kinabalu here – becomes the elected representative for the parliamentary seat in the next elections.
Sepanggar-born Rezal Limat, 34, said that the federal seat has been in the hands of outsiders instead of a home-grown personality for the last 10-odd years – and this state of affairs needs to change.
“Former MP Datuk Jumat Idris, who was MP from 2013 to 2018, is from Sandakan and his house is in Likas. He is not a Sepanggar local. Now, it’s held by Warisan Youth chief Datuk Azis Jamman, who is from Semporna,” he said during an interview with The Vibes.
“I don’t care what party they come from, but the political parties must field a local Sepanggar person. Only a local would know the real issues in the constituency.”
Azis, who is formerly the federal deputy home minister, won the Sepanggar seat in the 14th general election (GE14) in May 2018 with a 12,420 vote-majority, beating Umno’s Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
I don’t care what party they come from, but the political parties must field a local Sepanggar person. Only a local would know the real issues in the constituency.
Multi-cornered fight expected
Sepanggar voters comprise Sabah Bumiputeras (55%), Chinese (20%), Malays (19%), and others (6%).
While the advantage may be with Warisan due to its multiracial flair, it might not be easy for it to recapture the seat in GE15, which is due by September 2023 but widely expected to be held much sooner.
Warisan may face a tougher opponent like Sabah Progressive Party, whose leader Datuk Eric Majimbun was Sepanggar MP from 2004 to 2013.
It is likely to also face stiff competition from Barisan Nasional (BN) with components like Umno and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), or from Perikatan Nasional (PN), which includes Sabah Star.
Local resident Mohamad Libaran, who observed that groundwork among the GRS party machine has already started, anticipates a multi-cornered fight in the constituency.
“There are a few names that are floating about as potential candidates,” he said, listing incumbent Azis, who will likely defend the seat; Sepanggar Bersatu Youth chief Abqareee Fawwaz Abekan @ Korie; and Umno’s Zul Fikar Julkarnain and Joh Wid, the latter being former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman’s political secretary.
Mohamad added that former MPs like Jumat and those who lost in previous elections there like Umno’s Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, as well as someone from SAPP, cannot be dismissed from joining the fray.
The picture will start getting clearer when the ruling GRS – which comprises BN, PN, and Parti Bersatu Sabah – comes to an agreement on who should represent the alliance there.
“This will be resolved after the GRS parties complete their negotiations,” he said, adding that locals like Joh Wid may also have a chance to stand as candidates for Sepanggar.
Unemployment paradox
Sepanggar is Sabah’s most industrious district: it houses the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park; the state’s main port; a major Petronas depot; and the Sabah Cement plant, among others. It is also home to a five-star resort located in Karambunai.
Despite all this, many locals find it hard to get jobs as most of the positions available are given to talents from outside the constituency, like those from Penampang, Papar, Beaufort, and Tuaran.
“Traditionally, many of the Sepanggar folks are fishermen,” said Asri Manadi, who was raised in Sepanggar.
“However, most youths here have resigned from fishing and look for stable work around the area. Unfortunately, there are barely any jobs for them to go around, so they either have to travel to the city for work or become unemployed,” he said, adding that although there are many factories around, firms would rather hire people from outside the area.
Asri said that this is the reason why many local youths would prefer to vote against any party that fields an outsider as candidate.
“Only a Sepanggar-born would know the real issues faced by the folks around here.”
Squatter headache
Another salient problem is the migrant settlement in Sepanggar, says resident Julika Rasit.
“Power theft has become a serious issue at the settlement overseeing the Sepanggar naval base just behind Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and they live in dilapidated and unclean conditions,” she said.
Other similar settlements include Kg Unggun, located just behind the 1Sulaman luxury apartment building, whose construction was abandoned and is now pending completion.
“They say the people there have built their homes on land belonging to the Fisheries Department. The state government is now planning to demolish the makeshift homes there and we are not certain where the inhabitants will go. Or will they (move to) another vacant land and settle there?” Julika said, adding that most of the communities there are from the Bajau ethnic group. – The Vibes, April 16, 2021
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