KOTA KINABALU: A keen four-cornered fight is shaping up in Tamparuli, currently held by Datuk Jahid Jahim of Barisan Nasional (BN).
The Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth chief is ready to defend the seat as his candidacy is said to have been endorsed by the BN leadership.
But Jahid, when contacted yesterday, said that anything can happen at the eleventh hour of nomination day.
He is expected to face challenges from the three opposition parties — Sabah State Reform Party (Sabah STAR), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and the Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
Among the names from the opposition side are ex-assemblyman Edward Linggu from the Sabah STAR and Thomas Manti from SAPP. PR has yet to decide on its candidate, although several names have been bandied around, including Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) chairman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, its secretary, Datuk Kalakau Untol and its Youth chief, Dennis Gimpah, and also Tuaran Parti Keadilan Rakyat chief Ansari Abdullah.
Bumburing and Ansari are also potential PR candidates for the Tuaran parliamentary seat, which was won by Bumburing under the BN ticket in the 2008 general election. Veteran politician, Kalakau, who is a former deputy federal minister, is also a strong contender for the Sulaman state seat.
In the 2008 general election, Jahid retained the Tamparuli seat after securing 6,568 votes, beating his opponents Henry Misun (PKR) and independent candidate Silim Yamin, who collected 3,825 and 188 votes respectively.
The Election Commission yesterday announced the long awaited dates for the election where nomination will be on April 20, early voting on April 30 and polling on May 5.
On the preparation for the coming election, Jahid said they were all geared up to face the challenges.
“In fact, we have been ready since two years ago. We have prepared the machinery, our mind and mindset, knowledge and even the logistics. In the past couple of years, I have seen us growing stronger, not only within the party itself, but with the other component parties.
“So the two weeks of campaigning period would be sufficient enough,” said Jahid when contacted, disclosing that he, along with all incumbent members of parliament and state assemblymen and assemblywomen had been called for a meeting with Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Umno president, in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.
Jahid added the nation’s premier leader shared his wisdom with them, calling for continuous support from all party members.
“He (Najib) has sent the signal that not everyone can be re-nominated in the coming general election, but advised them to continue supporting BN, as well as the new candidates that have been given the mandate to represent the party in GE13.
“As for myself, even if I am not re-nominated, I will not be disheartened but instead will work hard to ensure whoever the BN candidate for Tamparuli is will retain the seat for us,” he said.