Inanam no dumping ground, says PAN candidate
INANAM: Parti Anak Negeri’s (PAN) candidate for the Inanam state seat, Terence Tsen, has called for the electorate to reject outsider candidate and also those who “has been” assemblyman there before.
“Inanam constituency should not be treated as a ‘dumping ground’ for parties to pluck outsiders to be planted here,” he said in his first salvo after the nomination day.
Terence, 53, a Sino-Kadazan from Inanam, claimed that the local electorates know what he was saying as it is voters themselves who have said that they would put a stop to an outsider becoming representative of Inanam in the state assembly this time.
“I also fully agree to the opinion of the majority in Inanam that we should neither support again a ‘has been’ who has served many many years as assemblyman who now wanted a comeback.
“Of course this is democracy, but the people are intelligent. They are questioning ‘what could the man do now that he could not do during a long three terms of being an assemblyman?’” he said.
Terence, who has held various positions during his younger years in Parti Bersatu Sabah, is a wellliked personality in Inanam and known to have and continues to engage with the people in solving local issues.
He has been PBS treasurer for Inanam division (1995-1998), PBS chairman for the Pekan Inanam branch (1997-2017) as well as the Persatuan Sino-Kadazandusun Sabah chairman for the Bandaraya branch. Terence who has been Parti Anak Negeri chief coordinator for the Sepanggar branch since last year, is banking on his long community engagements in Inanam as one of his strengths at this election, where, according to him, the local electorates have clearly vouched for a change and a fresh face to represent them.
Terence claimed he has the morale backing of several local leaders and this is one of the factors that convinced him he stands a chance to win in Inanam come polling day on May 9.
One of those openly backing him is well-known Daniel John Jambun who has stood on PKR ticket in previous general election. It is said at least one former assemblyman is also supporting Terence in his quest for the multi-racial seat.
He is involved in a six-cornered tussle for the seat which has equally substantial Kadazandusun and Chinese voters, with only about 15% Muslim voters.