KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah is no stranger to Sabah politics, but he is still equally excited as his colleagues in Parti Gerakan as once again he will be joining in the fray to ensure victory for Barisan Nasional.
Standing for the first time under the Parti Gerakan ticket, the former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president said he had prepared for the 13th general election “for a long time” and all that for BN.
“Parti Gerakan is also excited as this also marks its first time to be represented in the state election. It has never happened before. I wish we could get more seats but we are allocated with two, namely myself for Tanjong Papat (state) and incumbent Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah, and I think we will do our best and should do for BN.
“This also shows that Parti Gerakan’s rapport and relationship with the other component parties under BN is strong. We are very supportive of each other and are able to work closely together,” said Tan, who is also Parti Gerakan vice president.
Both Tan and Au left SAPP after the party pulled out of the ruling coalition in September 2008, and joined Parti Gerakan.
Currently, Parti Gerakan is also represented by Datuk Peter Pang En Yin who won the ticket under Liberal Democratic Party in the 12th general election. He will not be defending his seat as it would be returned to his former party.
Pang, the former LDP vice president, left the party to join Parti Gerakan in 2011.
“I feel sad that he (Pang) will not be renominated as he has been working very hard. Everybody knows him and we have spoken to him … but we all have to look at the bigger picture, look at how we can collaborate because our main objective is to make BN win big. It would be Au’s and mine, as well as other BN leaders in Sandakan to ensure that everyone is part of the coalition’s election machinery; only then we can face the challenges in the coming election,” he said.
Tan meanwhile said the recognition and support given to them would be translated into winning the seats for BN.