KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah is driving home a simple message ahead of the Sandakan by-election on May 11 - it can focus on being an effective opposition in Parliament.
PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the party will stand it's ground to provide the check and balance for the east coast constituency it last represented in 1990 and contested in 1999.
The party now holds one out of 25 parliamentary and five of the 60 state seats in Sabah, after nearly a year of alliance switches, new affiliations and coalitions among elected representatives following the 14th General Election.
Ongkili said it's candidate Datuk Linda Tsen Thau Lin is the PBS divisional chief in Elopura which is under Sandakan.
"We are offering PBS to be the voice for the Sandakan people in parliament.
"She can serve the people, she is a seasoned and experienced grassroots leader," he said and assured the party will not betray the task entrusted by those who voted for them.
PBS deputy president Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai said DAP had never governed before and they will find it difficult being in that position with other partners that use to be it's enemies.
"PBS has the experience, track record and holds true to its core struggles. Many people in Sabah are behind us," he said and echoed similar sentiments of the need to provide check and balance for the people.
Tsen was thrust into the political mainstream in 2010 when she replaced her late husband Datuk Edmund Wong, the Batu Sapi MP, who died in an accident here then.
A five way contest is on the cards with the state government's Parti Warisan Sabah-Pakatan Harapan-Upko candidate Vivian Wong Shir Yee bearing the DAP ticket along with three independents Sulaiman Abdul Samat, Hamzah Abdullah and Chia Siew Yung.
Since Saturday, the party has began canvassing key areas in the constituency, delivering it's message door-to-door and in market grounds.