Sabah BN to announce candidates tomorrow

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional is set to announce its candidates for the 25 parliamentary and 60 state seats tomorrow.

The naming of the contenders will come a day after the launch of its election manifesto.

It is understood that Sabah Barisan leaders are fine-tuning the list that has more or less been given the green light by the national leadership.

However, there were signs of dissension when a group of Umno members in Tawau’s Balung state constituency held a protest outside the Umno office yesterday over the possibility of an “outsider” being fielded there.

According to the officials, they heard that former Land and Survey Department director Datuk Osman Jamal might be fielded in their constituency to replace state assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Syed Abas Syed Ali.

This led to about 50 members from 22 Tawau Umno branches gathering outside the Umno office to protest despite no names having been officially released.

The group wanted Tawau Umno Youth chief Ariffin Kassim to be the candidate for Balung.

Meanwhile, it is understood that key Barisan leaders are expected to retain their candidacy.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman and other leaders in Sabah Barisan will be defending their constituencies as the seat-sharing formula used by the ruling coalition in the 2013 elections will be maintained.

With the possible exception of Parti Bersatu Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan who might only be defending his Tambunan state seat and letting go of his Keningau parliamentary seat, the other leaders will defend their seats.

It is expected that Musa, who is Sabah’s longest serving chief minister since 2003, will be defending his Sungai Sibuga state seat, Upko acting president Datuk Seri Madius Tangau will stay on in Tuaran parliamentary seat while PBS deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili will defend his Kota Marudu parliamentary seat.

Liberal Democratic Party president Datuk Seri Teo Chee Kang will defend his Tanjung Kapor state seat while Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup will likely remain in the Pensiangan parliamentary seat.

Gerakan vice- president Datuk Raymond Tan will stay on in the Tanjong Papat state seat while Sabah MCA deputy chairman Datuk Francis Goh is likely to contest in Kapayan, the seat the party lost in 2013.