According to a source, they are former assemblyman Datuk Johnny Goh, who was not fielded in the last election, a Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) supreme council member and two Inanam PBS leaders.
Goh, who is also the president of the Sino Kadazandusun Murut association, is a veteran politician who has served as Inanam state assemblyman for several terms.
The source said Goh is well accepted and enjoyed strong influence among the constituents in Inanam.
He said the remaining three potential candidates were fresh faces from PBS’ central and division levels, and that they were hopeful of being fielded.
In the 13th General Election, BN candidate Joseph Paulus Lantip, from PBS, lost to PKR’s Dr Roland Chia Ming Shen by 3,202 votes.
The three-cornered fight also involved another opposition leader, Datuk Eric Majimbun from Sabah Progressive Party.
Prior to the 2013 polls, Goh successfully defended the Inanam seat in 2004 and 2008. He also won the seat in 1999 under PBS, which was then an opposition party.
This year, BN’s quest to wrest the Inanam seat will be challenged by Parti Warisan Sabah, United Sabah Alliance and Pakatan Harapan.
Several Sabah opposition leaders’ names have been bandied about, including former DAP candidate Jeffrey Kumit, who lost his electoral bid in 2008. He is currently in United Sabah Alliance.
Meanwhile, Inanam PBS deputy chief said BN has a good chance of winning the seat, based on the party’s ability to bring progress to the constituency.
“We have two mega projects in the works, namely the new Telipok-Kiulu-Ranau road and the Pan Borneo Highway, will stretch from Kampung Pomotodon in Inanam to Kampung Keliangau in Manggatal.”
“The Telipok-Kiulu-Ranau road, which will be the new route connecting Kota Kinabalu and Ranau, is welcomed by the people in Telipok, who have been facing connectivity issues.
“The Pan Borneo Highway, meanwhile, will finally address the issue of traffic congestion here.