Rampas intends to win on merit, not beauty
KOTA KINABALU: Look beyond her looks, there’s far more than what meets the eye, says a former beauty queen who is vying for the title of YB Kiulu.
“I have been blessed with good physical attributes but I intend to win this election on merit,” said lawyer Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas, 28.
Once Sabah’s Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) winner, she is set to be fielded as Parti Warisan Sabah’s candidate in the Kiulu state seat where her key opponent is incumbent assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai of Parti Bersatu Sabah.
Rampas, who is of mixed ethnic Kadazandusun and British parentage, is making it clear that perceptions of her being a socialite and having “westernised ways” would not be a hindrance to her political campaign, especially among rural villagers.
“I was born and spent a good portion of my early life in Kampung Poturidong, Kiulu. I grew up with my grandmother who only spoke traditional Dusun and who made a living farming and tapping rubber.
“In my early teenage life, I moved to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. Then I spent a couple of years in England, reading law and working,” she said.
“I might have left Kiulu for some years but Kiulu never left me.” She returned to Sabah in 2016. Rampas, who has been working on the ground since April last year, said she decided to enter politics as she wanted to improve the livelihood of the people of Kiulu.
The drive to spur changes in Kiulu was brought about by her late grandfather O.K.K. Rampas Gumpai who had left a legacy in Kiulu with his various contributions.
Rampas, who is married to a doctor, said Kiulu was just 60km from the state capital, yet it remained backwards.
Basic infrastructure like roads as well as water and electricity supply to the mainly Kadazandusun community on the foothills of Mount Kinabalu must be improved.
“Kiulu’s rustic beauty must be maintained but we must bring in the basic amenities,” she said, as she talked about Barisan Nasional’s yet to be fulfilled promises such as building a new school in Nabalu, among other local issues.
But Rampas will face a tough challenge from Bangkuai, 56, who has helped local folk get their native land titles after decades of waiting.
There is also a road project connecting Kota Kinabalu to Ranau, which is set to boost the economic growth of Kiulu, which sits under the Tuaran district.
Bangkuai, who is Sabah Tourism Board chairman, has also pushed for eco-tourism in Kiulu, which has benefited the people through homestays and other adventure products in the hilly terrain constituency of about 12,000 voters in 105 kampungs.