KIMANIS: Kimanis Umno chief Datuk Mohamad Alamin was today announced as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the upcoming Kimanis by-election.
His candidacy was announced by Sabah Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin after chairing a committee meeting at the BN command centre here.
Bung said Mohamad, 48, was chosen after the committee conducted four rounds of selections.
“Mohamad is no stranger to the Kimanis parliamentary constituency.
“He also used to be the Bongawan assemblyman.
“We feel that the (local sentiment) factor is important for voter acceptance, coupled with his ability to collaborate effectively with the BN and component parties machineries,” he said.
Bung said local opposition parties, such as Parti Bersatu Sabah, would also lend their support to the BN candidate.
He said the Kimanis by-election would mark the beginning of a “resurrection” for BN, and have a significant political impact on the state.
“Voters in Sabah have to use this poll as a referendum to pressure the Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) government, who have failed to govern the country by focusing only on trivial matters instead of looking after the people,” he said.
The Kimanis parliamentary seat fell vacant after the Apex Court upheld an Election Court ruling that discrepancies were found in the election process during the last general election.
The seat was won by four-term lawmaker Datuk Seri Anifah Aman against Warisan’s candidate Datuk Karim Bujang with a slim majority of 156.
Nomination day is this Saturday. Early voting will take place on Jan 14 while polling will fall on Jan 18.
Sabah Pas yesterday declared its backing for the BN candidate.
State Pas commissioner Mohd Aminuddin Aling said the party would support Mohamad to ensure a BN victory.
“We will mobilise our machinery throughout the state with assistance from Peninsular Malaysia,” he said after chairing a meeting in Sembulan near here.
Aminuddin said the support was part of the “muafakat nasional” approach. Pas, he said, would focus on selected areas in Kimanis.
“We are banking on 70 per cent of voters, the majority of whom are Bumiputera Muslims.
“We also have non-Muslim members who will be canvassing support among the non-Bumi Muslim voters,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Parti Bersatu Sabah spokesperson said the party would issue a statement by Friday on the Kimanis by-election.
Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is expected to launch the party’s election machinery tomorrow at the Membakut Hall.
Warisan has yet to announce its candidate.