Just Friendly Overlaps Pkr Downplays Seat Clashes

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SABAH POLLS | While initially seen as the heart of the "love triangle" between BN, Pakatan Harapan, and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), several PKR candidates will face off with their allies as campaigning for the Sabah polls begins today.
PKR vice-president, R Ramanan, however, moved to downplay the party's head-to-head clashes in the hotly watched Moyog and Bandau seats, insisting the contest is merely a “friendly” overlap between partners.
He said such overlaps were the product of last-minute adjustments and were not expected to disrupt relations among federal partners.
“We do have cooperation between Harapan and GRS. But this is one of two or three seats where we are clashing.
ADS“Even in a family, a mother and father don’t always agree on something,” Ramanan (above) told reporters after the nomination process ended for the Moyog and Kapayan seats in Penampang on Saturday.
PKR is clashing with GRS in Bandau and Moyog, despite an electoral pact between GRS and Harapan.
PKR Kota Marudu division chief Zaidi JaitilIn Bandau, PKR has fielded Zaidi Jatil, going up against BN’s newly announced pick Willey Lampaki, a former Kinabatangan District Council president.
Ramanan said PKR remained confident after witnessing strong support for its candidate at the nomination centre.
“If we look at the Harapan candidate today, Remysta (Taylor), we can see the support from outside. We were among the largest in Moyog,” he said, adding that Harapan also was prepared for seat overlaps.
“One or two small issues are nothing. Under (PKR president) Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, he has a very good working relationship, a very good partnership, not only with (Umno president) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi but also with (GRS chairperson) Hajiji Noor.”
Recalibration
Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud echoed the same line, saying the party's two additional candidates were part of a recalibration following changes made by BN and GRS.
“This addition is not merely a strategy to strengthen our machinery, but reflects Sabah PKR’s commitment,” he said.
He added that the decision represented a long-term push to elevate young leaders.
“Young people have long been the backbone of the reform movement, and now it is time they are given the space to lead,” he said.
PKR Moyog candidate Remysta TaylorWhen met, Remysta, 37, said he was informed only two days before nomination day that he would be contesting Moyog.
ADS“It’s a leadership decision. It’s not on my side. I was asked to stand - and I’m happy to stand,” he said.
Asked about the 12-cornered fight, he said: “Democracy means anyone who wants to contest can contest. If they want to stand, that is their right.”
‘Up to top hats’
GRS candidate from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Joeynodd Bansin, also played down concerns over the clash, saying decisions were entirely up to the party leadership.
“I just leave these decisions to the top hats. So far, there is no arrangement. I believe this is a final decision by the leadership,” said Joeynodd, adding that he was only informed of his candidacy on Nov 12.
On the crowded field, he said, “The more people who run, the more the vote is divided. That is democracy. Every candidate knows this.”
Hajiji had previously acknowledged that there would be minor collisions with Harapan.
The Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah president had also said he has no qualms over several of his former party members - Jamawi Jaafar (Melalap) and George Hiew (Karamunting) - this time contesting under the PKR ticket for Harapan.
Jamawi Jaafar (left) and George HiewIn Karamunting, Hiew is set for a five-cornered contest against the BN candidate from MCA, Chin Kim Hiung, and three others.
Apart from PKR, Harapan's candidate from DAP, Noorita Sual, is also set to challenge GRS' incumbent for Kemabong, Gagasan vice-president Rubin Balang.
The nine-cornered contest for Kemabong will also see Noorita challenging Tenom Umno Wanita chief, Rahmah Jan Sulaiman, among others. - Mkini

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