MEMBAKUT: Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) kept its campaign momentum going today by encouraging registered voters living outside of the Kimanis constituency to come home and exercise their rights on Jan 18’s polling day.
Warisan candidate Datuk Karim Bujang said in a bid to attract voters home, he has held meetings with heads of constituents residing outside of Kimanis.
“The motto I am using is ‘Cuti-Cuti Balik Kampung’ to meet family and relatives. With that spirit, voters don’t only return home to vote, but take it as an opportunity to spend time with their loved ones," he told reporters after a walkabout at Pekan Membakut here, today.
Kimanis has 29,664 registered voters, comprising 29,654 regular voters, nine early voters and one overseas absentee voter.
Karim said that less than 30 per cent of voters live outside the constituency, with a majority of them, at least 2,000 people, based in Kota Kinabalu.
The rest, he said, are in Labuan, where between 600 and 700 voters reside.
On travel and transportation concerns for returning Kimanis voters, Karim said that it should not be an issue, as the distance between Kota Kinabalu-Membakut and Kota Kinabalu-Kimanis is not great.
When asked about phantom voters, the Kimanis Warisan division chief said he is not worried.
“I am not sure whether there are still phantom voters, or (if) these ghosts have gone. I think (there is) none. From my experience in contesting (in elections) five times, I've never seen phantom voters (in the Kimanis constituency)," Karim said.
He then called on constituents to continue supporting the current Warisan-led state government until the next general election.
"This is a golden opportunity for voters to think positively about our constituency. I alone cannot do anything without the people's support.
“So, I need their support to help bring development to Kimanis. I plead to those staying outside the parliamentary seat area to come home and cast their vote on Jan 18,” said Karim, who added that he pledges to serve the people of all communities if he wins the by-election.