KOTA KINABALU: As nominations open for the Kimanis by-election today, it is the homegrown candidates for the two main parties who are likely to face a tight race to win the people’s mandate.
Representing Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) is Datuk Karim Bujang, who grew up in Kampung Kimanis and is eager to return to mainstream politics.
Facing him is Sabah Umno candidate Datuk Mohamad Alamin of Kampung Melagui Kelatuan.
The by-election on Jan 18 will gauge key issues that have attracted much attention of late, which could either put the concerns to rest or prompt actions from the government or the opposition.
A seasoned politician from neighbouring Papar said the Sabah Temporary Pass would be the main issue that the opposition would harp on.
“Many locals talk about this and it is one issue that needs to be explained,” he said.
“On Umno, Warisan will likely play up the party’s ‘autonomy’ from the main party leadership.
“Umno continues to remain as a ‘semenanjung’ party in the eyes of the people.”
Then there are the large number of non-Muslim Bumiputera or Kadazandusun voters who might sway their support either way, depending on how they view the government handling the issue on immigrants, he said.
“Both candidates are locals who know the issues well. They know who are on their side and each knows his own flaws and strengths.
“It’s going to be a close race. There are close to 30,000 voters in the constituency. About half are Muslim Bumiputeras — 45 per cent of them are Kadazandusun and Chinese (five per cent).”
Karim, who is a veteran politician from United Sabah National Organisation (Usno), won his first term in 1990. He was with Umno for four terms as Bongawan assemblyman before being replaced in 2013.
The 66-year-old former Sabah Barisan Nasional secretary-general, who joined Warisan last year, contested in the 14th General Election (GE14) but lost.
He filed the petition on June 18 last year to challenge the election result.
Alamin replaced Karim in 2013. He lost his seat to Dr Daud Yusof of Warisan in 2018.
Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is also Sabah chief minister, said cooperation with the party’s allies in Pakatan Harapan and United Progressive People of Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) would ensure that it remained focused.
“They (Umno and BN) can come and say whatever they want. They will touch on issues like illegal immigrants and the Sabah Temporary Pass. We are not afraid,” he said at the launch of Warisan-PH-Upko election machinery on Thursday.
On Dec 2, the Federal Court upheld the Election Court’s ruling nullifying former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman’s victory in GE14.