357 candidates in Sabah free-for-all

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KOTA KINABALU: A keen free-for-all fight is shaping up between the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Opposition as leaders from the State BN component expressed confidence of repeating their 2008 outstanding feat of making a virtual clean sweep of all the seats up for grabs on May 5 polling day.

Going into the polls with a landslide victory of  59 state and 24 parliamentary seats in the last general election, all the chiefs of the Sabah BN component parties are being challenged in the respective seats as the ruling coalition faces its fiercest ever election in the country’s political history.

A total of 262 candidates are contesting for the 60 state seats and 95 candidates for the 25 parliamentary seats. None of the candidates contesting was returned unopposed, when nomination results were announced before mid-day yesterday.

Most of the state and parliamentary seats saw multi-cornered fights, except for Sandakan constituency – the only seat showcasing a straight-fight between BN and DAP.  The Senallang state and Kalabakan parliamentary seats attracted the biggest number with seven candidates each.

Chief Minister cum Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who is once again entrusted to steer the State BN to yet another thumping victory, is tied in a five-cornered fight with PKR’s Irwansah Mustapha, AM Jaafar @ Damaid Juana (SAPP), Mohd Roslan Yussof (STAR) and Independent Mohd Arshad Abdul in defending his Sungai Sibuga seat.

Another incumbent BN heavyweight, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is Umno vice-president, is being challenged by Zamree @ Mohd Suffian Abdul Habi of PKR and Datu Badaruddin, the son of the late Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, the founder of the now defunct USNO, for the Semporna parliamentary seat.

On the north west coast in Usukan, another Umno stalwart former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Salleh Tun Said, who is making a comeback, is involved in a three-way tussle with Mustapha @ Mohd Yunus Makmud (PKR) and Bakhruddin Ismail from STAR Sabah.

Over in Tambunan, a tough fight awaits another BN heavyweight Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who represented the constituency since 1976. He is facing Wilfred Win Ponil from (PKR-APS), Nestor Joannes (STAR) and two independent candidates Francis Koh and Justin Yonsoding in defending his seat.

Another PBS strongman, BN incumbent Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili is challenged by APS deputy chairman Datuk Maijol Mahap (PKR-APS), Majamis Timbong (STAR) and SAPP’s Yuntau Kolod @ Kuntau Kolod.

A keen fight also awaits UPKO president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok in a three-cornered fight with lawyer Ignatius Darell Leiking, the PKR assistant secretary-general, and a woman candidate Melania @ Melanie Annol from STAR Sabah in defending his Penampang seat.