KOTA KINABALU: Pro-tem president of the newly-revived United Sabah National Organization (USNO), Datu Badaruddin Tun Datu Mustapha, is likely to contest for the Semporna parliamentary seat.
A reliable source from State Reform Party (STAR), which is currently USNO’s closest ally, said Badaruddin might take on the challenge of uprooting four-term Umno representative Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is likely to defend the seat again in the coming general election.
The son of USNO founder, Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, is also said to be planning to run for the Banggi state seat, currently held by another Umno representative Abdul Mijul Unani.
The USNO pro-tem president, however, may have to contest under the Star’s symbol, because his own party has yet to get its registration approved.
Judging from the latest announcement by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to go it alone and not to join forces with state-based parties in the coming general election, it is possible to see at least three-cornered fights in the two Muslim-majority seats, especially Banggi where PR fielded its candidate in 2008.
Semporna is considered one of the Umno-BN strongest fortresses in Sabah, with Shafie having successfully retained it with more than two-third majority in the last four consecutive elections.
Shafie, who is one of Umno’s three vice-presidents, first won the seat in 1995 with an overwhelming victory against the then opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidate, Sabardin Ombrah.
His last victory in 2008 was almost a total whitewash for his rival, Abd Azis Abd Hamid of PKR, when he garnered 19,419 or 90 per cent of the total votes in a straight fight.
Meanwhile, Banggi, currently held by incumbent Abdul Mijul of Umno defeated Mursalin Tanjul of PKR with a majority of 2,024 votes in 2008.
Mursalin garnered 1,327 votes while three other candidates, namely Martin Lantop from Bersekutu and two independent candidates Kusugan Ali and Usmun Uyuh, only secured between 34 and 87 votes each.
Banggi was previously held by Badaruddin’s brother, Datuk Datu Amir Kahar Tun Datu Mustapha, who has also indicated his intention to contest in the coming elections.
It was reported on Friday that Amir Kahar quit his post as Inspector-General of Projects, a state government appointment with ministerial status specially created for him after his removal from Banggi, the constituency he had represented for 22 years.
The former deputy chief minister was quoted as saying he had sent his resignation letter to the Chief Minister’s Department and he decided to contest again after almost a five-year break, as he believed he can still deliver and serve the people.
However, it was unclear as to where he would be contesting given that he announced his own candidacy without Umno’s sanction.
It looks like he may go against his own party and contest as an independent or even under one of the opposition parties.
At the same time, it is unlikely he would run against his own brother in the same constituency, hence there is a possibility he would go for Tanjong Kapor currently held by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secretary general Datuk Teo Chee Kang, or even Kudat parliamentary seat held by incumbent Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.