Elderly man keen to see Salleh back as Usukan rep

KOTA BELUD: As candidates addressed the crowd at the weekly tamu (market) in Usukan here, an elderly man walked through the packed venue carrying bags with bottles of soft drinks for the people.

The man, Jamal Satu, uncapped a bottle and handed it to a campaign worker who was cajoling the crowd to vote for Barisan Nasional-Umno candidate Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.

“This is my sedekah (donation) to him. I have never asked him for help nor been to his house but I support him because he supports the Federal Government,” he said.

Jamal, a native of the area, said he believed through his ties with the Federal Government, Salleh could help ensure the country’s sovereignty.

“We don’t want the penjajah (occupiers) to come in like how the Japanese did in World War II,” he said.

Jamal, 72, was alluding to Sabah’s immigrant issue, which Sabah has been trying to resolve for decades.

The immigrants, most of whom are refugees, are often blamed for socials ills and security threats in Sabah.

Jamal said he was a strong supporter of Salleh, whose family already commands a strong following in Usukan, and would not back anyone else.

He feels caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s Parti Warisan Sabah and the current Warisan government was unable to keep its promises, not even small ones such as repairing dilapidated homes in the area.

“They came to my home and said they would repair it. I never asked them to. But until today, no work has been done. Kosong! (zero),” he said.