PBS to contest Sandakan by-election

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) yesterday confirmed its participation in the Sandakan parliamentary by-election next month.

Its president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the decision was made by the party’s political bureau during a meeting, here, recently.

Describing their participation as ‘responding to the grassroots’ support and demand’, Ongkili said PBS is currently screening ‘our lengthy list’ to field the party’s best winnable candidate.

“The party is still vetting the list and hope to make an announcement (on candidate) before the nomination day. We have a lengthy list of potential candidates, and names are still being submitted by our members and grassroots in Sandakan,” he said.

Ongkili said the list includes leaders within the party, as well as from outside.

“We are excited to fly our own flag in the coming by-election. We appeal to the Sandakan voters to support PBS for their representative and voice in Parliament. PBS is also willing to cooperate with other likeminded opposition parties, whether national or local,” he said.

The last time PBS flew its own flag was in the 1999 general elections, before it subsequently rejoined the Barisan Nasional coalition in 2002. PBS has since quit the coalition after the then ruling government’s poor performance in the 2018 14th general election.

The Election Commission has set polling for May 11, following the demise of the incumbent Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Stephen Wong following a sudden heart attack on March 28. Sandakan has 39,777 registered voters comprising 49 per cent Chinese, 44 per cent Muslim Bumiputra and six per cent non-Muslim Bumiputra.