Ilham Centre predicts Warisan win

KIMANIS: Warisan candidate Karim Bujang is expected to capture the Kimanis seat previously held by BN when voters take to the polls tomorrow (Saturday).

A survey by the Ilham Centre, conducted from Jan 11-13, found that the backing of the federal government was a key factor in deciding the race which is a straight fight between BN's Mohamad Alamin and Karim.

Malaysiakini reported that Ilham Centre conducted a field study using randomised sampling was carried out, involving 401 respondents who were registered voters in Kimanis and who represented all ethnic, gender, age and local segmentations.

The data were collected by the researchers using a structured survey and partially-structured interview protocols involving nine locals familiar with the environment. The study data were then analysed quantitatively and qualitatively, with a margin of error of five percent.

Kimanis is a semi-urban seat of 29,644 registered voters, where 63.16 percent are Muslim bumiputera, 30.67 percent non-Muslim bumiputera, 3.59 percent Chinese and 2.58 percent others.

Ilham Centre panel of Mohd Yusri Ibrahim, Mohd Azlan Zainal, Mohd Jalaluddin Hashim and Prof Madya Hamidin Abd Hamid noted that Sabah's political landscape is very dynamic, diverse and far different than the political landscape of the peninsula, with the personal traits of politicians and local warlords still influencing

Sabah's political campaigns and psychology.

"The leadership of Shafie Apdal in establishing a local party in solidarity and strategic cooperation with the parties with federal Pakatan Harapan is one of the main reasons why the Sabah BN led by Umno eventually lost the state government," they said.

The Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) is one of the biggest issues of the election but Ilham Centre found it was not likely to impact as much as BN was hoping.

Survey respondents were split almost three ways on the implementation of PSS. About 38 percent of respondents supported it, 30 percent were uncertain and 32 percent said they did not support and strongly opposed the implementation of the PSS.