Tanjung Kapor expected to see three-way battle
KUDAT: With polling day getting closer, the question on the minds of voters in Tanjung Kapor (N.2) is not which political party (Barisan Nasional and opposition) will win in the general election, but whether the winner is capable of improving the economic status and living standards of the people in the district.
It is now highly speculated that Tanjung Kapor will see a three-cornered fight between the ruling Barisan Nasional, Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (PAN) and Parti Warisan Sabah.
Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang who is also Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president, is the incumbent assemblyman for two terms in the area and is now rumoured to be fielded in a parliamentary constituency in Sandakan.
His Kudat vice-chairman Peter Chin is top on the list to replace him in the polls.
Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri is expected to field its treasurer Thomas Tsen who is a respectable religious leader and a successful businessman in the tourism sector. Thomas is a neophyte in the local political arena who eagerly wants to bring progress in his birth land.
Parti Warisan Sabah vicepresident Junz Wong who is incumbent Likas assemblyman, recently confirmed that he will carry the Warisan flag in Tanjung Kapor on May 9.
Together with the party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Junz attended a political gathering recently in Kudat signalling his entry into the three-cornered political fray.
The three state seats within the Kudat parliamentary constituency have been under BN rule for the last three terms.
The Banggi state seat is held by Umno’s Abdul Mijul Unaini, Tanjung Kapor by Teo while Assistant Industrial Development Minister Bolkiah Ismail, who is also Kudat BN chairman, helms Pitas.
The incumbent Member of Parliament for Kudat is Abdul Rahim Bakri whom the people have given the mandate to represent them in the Parliament since 2004.
The political war of flags among the contesting parties has begun in residential, commercial and public places in Kudat.
The local populace from all walks of life are now talking politics in coffee shops, barber shops, parks and public places.
With the entry of Thomas, Junz and Peter, the voters said the political battle in Tanjung Kapor is perfectly a fair ground for everybody.
Kudat, which is bigger than Penang, with land size of 1,287 sq km, sits in the northern-most part of Sabah.
It has over 124,000 people, most of them Rungus, a sub-ethnic group under the Kadazandusun Murut community.
Tourism is big business in Kudat as between 80,000 to 100,000 international and domestic visitors flock to the district annually to visit its attractions, especially Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, otherwise known as the Tip of Borneo.
Coupled with idyllic sandy white beaches, the sunset in Kudat is a hit with tourists who also like to savour Rungus culture with a gong-making factory in Kampung Sumangkap and plenty of native handicraft, either sold in proper outlets or roadside stalls along the route to Kudat.
However, agriculture, not tourism, is the biggest income earner in Kudat.
Over 54,000 hectares have been put up for the purpose, mostly involving oil palm and rubber, while fishing activities make up the second biggest money earner.
The tourism industry has yet to reach its full potential although many believe it will take off in the next five years.
This however needs government’s facilitation to spur development particularly in infrastructure.
For instance, islands offshore Kudat such as Banggi, which is the biggest island in the country, and Balambangan are prospective tourism gold mines but unfortunately still lack proper accommodation and transport services.
There is a ferry service to Banggi and also boats for charter but these are hardly enough, and the low availability of lodgings and public infrastructures are deterrents for visitors.
However, a 130km TuaranKudat coastal road project which is part of the RM2.5 billion Pan Borneo Highway construction is seen as a catalyst for boosting Kudat’s economy and tourism industry.