SANDAKAN: Incumbent Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman, who is also the chief minister, will be challenged in a five-cornered fight for the Sungai Sibuga state seat.
The nomination of the State Barisan Nasional (BN) liaison chairman was proposed by Datuk Basra Abd Rahman and supported by Mokran Ingkat.
Musa will be challenged by Irwanshah Mustapha from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), A.M Jaffar @ Damaid Juana from Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Mohd Roslan Yussof from State Reform Party (STAR) and an independent candidate, Mohd Arshad Abdul.
He arrived at Sri Libaran Hall around 8.55am yesterday accompanied by his proposer and seconder. His arrival received enormous support from about 5,000 BN supporters who gathered outside the hall.
Speaking to reporters after the nomination, Musa said the five-way battle in Sungai Sibuga showed democracy is very much alive in the country.
He said anyone could contest as long as the candidate met the conditions set by the Election Commission.
“I believe a good competition will happen in Sungai Sibuga because of the competitive candidates. However, I am confident that the people in this area are wise in choosing the next leader,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gum-Gum witnessed a three-cornered fight between its incumbent, Datuk Zakaria Haji Mohd Edris from Umno, Ahmad Thamrin @ Tamrin Mohd Jaini (PKR) and Hassan Hami @ Hamid from STAR. Zakaria won the Gum Gum state seat unopposed in the 2008 general election.
For Libaran, Datuk Juslie Ajirol from Umno will be challenged by three other candidates, namely Mohd Serman Hassnar (PKR), Rosnah Unsari (STAR) and Sahar Saka (Independent).