People still want Pakatan Harapan – Hajiji
KOTA KINABALU: DAP candidate Vivian Wong Shir Yee's victory in the Sandakan parliamentary byelection proves that the people want the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government and the Warisan partyled State Government to continue ruling, said Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Sabah coordinator Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said.
Hajijji said Bersatu Sabah is also thankful for being entrusted by the Sandakan Parliamentary Election Machinery to assist in campaigning at two District Voting Centres (PDMs) during the by-election.
“We are also proud of the PDM areas, such as Sim-Sim and Berhala Island a majority of whom are Muslim Bumiputera, where former PH candidates lost, but this time was won by PH.”
“This victory shows that Umno's influence has decreased since the coming of Bersatu to Sabah, including Sandakan,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Hajiji who is also the Sulaman assemblyman, said Vivian did not only succeed in helping the PH government to retain the parliamentary seat in Sandakan but also garnered a huge majority of 11,521 votes.
“On behalf of Bersatu Sabah, I congratulate DAP and Vivian Wong on the meaningful victory.
“This also showed that voters in Sandakan Parliamentary area want Vivian to continue the agenda and struggle by her late father, Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt.
“This decision had been made by voters in the Sandakan parliamentary area and as such it should be respected by all concerned,” he said.
Vivian garnered 16,012 votes beating Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidate Datuk Linda Tsen Thau Lin (4,491 votes) in a five-cornered contest.
Three Independent candidates - former founder of Parti Amanah Negara Sabah, Hamzah Abdullah garnered 788 votes; former administration officer of the Sandakan Parliament Service Centre, Sulaiman Abdul Samat (126 votes) and businessman Chia Siew Yung (178 votes), thereby losing their deposits.
Vivian successfully retained the seat that had been held by her late father Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt for the last two terms. He died of a heart attack on March 28.
During the 14th General Election, Tien Fatt who was the Sabah DAP chairman, won with a majority of 10,098 votes, garnering an overall 19,094 votes against 8,996 votes garnered by his opponent Datuk Lim Ming Hoo of Liberal Democratic Party, a component member of Barisan Nasional.