Six-cornered fight for Tg Aru?
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah vice president Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah is expecting a tough fight for Barisan Nasional’s (BN) coveted and last urban seat with a minimum five candidates in the fray during the 14th general election (GE14).
“We had a four-cornered fight. This time I think there are more because as we have BN, Warisan (Parti Warisan Sabah), PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia), USA (Gabungan Sabah), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) or Parti Anak Negeri Sabah (Anak Negeri) and then others we do not know yet. So at least five to six-corner, minimum,” he told reporters after officiating the SM Stella Maris Open Day at ceremony in Tanjung Aru here yesterday.
“I think everybody will fight to get it. I believe BN still has a lot support here in this constituency. Whoever the candidate is, and if I am given the chance, definitely I will defend it and make it happen.
“But in every election there is no 100%. It depends on your opponents. We will see and try our best to secure it for the BN,” he added.
Yong said BN will always consider choosing leaders that will not upset the grassroots community in each constituency.
When going to the ground, he could feel that the people are still very much with BN, which had done a lot for the people in Tanjung Aru and Putatan constituency.
“The wind is very strong. This election is going to be tough for everybody. Of course, BN is a government and they want to defend. The opposition also wants to form a government. The challenge is there. So everybody has to do their part,” he stressed.
The undefeated Yong originally won the Sembulan seat, previously under the Tanjong Aru constituency, for PBS in 1999 by a 303 majority with 5,464 votes.
He beat Datu Bara Datu Alawaddin, 70 votes, BN’s Datuk Chau Chin Tang, 5,161 votes, and Bersekutu’s Dr Tan Kok Sui, 2,109 votes.
Yong beat PASOK’s Foo Ah Onong @ Onong Otong Pasok, 118 votes, DAP’s Chong Yaw Fah @ Stephen, 1,140 votes, and Keadilan’s Awang Ahmad Sah, 1,995 votes in GE11, taking home 6,904 votes with a majority of 4,909.
In GE12, he won by a 2,960 majority with 6,430 votes, in a three-cornered fight with PKR’s Awang Ahmad Sah, 3,470 votes, and DAP’s Yang Chan Tsze @ Teddy Yang, 2,298 votes.
Yong bagged 9,099 votes, a majority of 3,690, in GE13, beating STAR’s Salleh Tiasi who garnered 750 votes, PAS’ Hamid Ismail, 5,409 votes, and SAPP’s Yong We Kong, 1,333 votes.