KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat and the three state seats within the constituency are set for a tough battle in the 13th general election, with a five-cornered tussle for Api-Api and a four-cornered fight for Luyang state seats.
The candidates for Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat which comprises Likas, Api Api and Luyang state seats, filed their nomination papers at Dewan Maksak, Likas here yesterday.
A total of 16 candidates, including political veterans and new faces, are contesting for the Chinese-majority parliamentary and state seats in Kota Kinabalu.
Incumbent Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai will be defending his Api-Api state seat for the second time against Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Christina Liew Chin Jin, Felix Chong Kat Fah (STAR), Datuk Wong Yit Ming of SAPP and Independent candidate Marcel Jude A/L MS Joseph, who is a lawyer
The candidates for Kota Kinabalu are (based on the sequence on ballot papers) Chin Tek Ming, lawyer (BN-PBS), Michael Liew Hock Leong, 59, businessman (STAR) and Jimmy Wong Sze Phin, 59, former Sri Tanjong assemblyman (DAP).
The candidates for Likas are Junz Wong Hong Jun (DAP), Chin Shu Ying, engineer (BN-LDP), former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) and Ho Cheong Tshun (STAR).
The candidates for Luyang are incumbent Melanie Chia Chui Ket (SAPP), Datuk Agnes Shim Tshin Nyuk (BN-MCA), Hiew King Cheu, former Kota Kinabalu MP (DAP) and Jafery Jomion (STAR).
Chin Shu Ying, Agnes, Wong Yit Ming and Junz Wong are new faces.
Although nomination officially started at 9am, supporters of various political parties gathered outside the centre after 7am to prepare their respective parties’ flags.
The hot weather on nomination day yesterday did not dampen the supporters’ spirits as they waited patiently under the sun for the returning officer (RO) Alijus @Mohd Ali Haji Sipil to announce the candidates, and shouted out party slogans whilst waving their flags upon the arrival of their party’s candidates and when the candidates’ names were announced.
Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidates, namely Chin Tek Ming, Chin Shu Ying, Dr Yee and Agnes arrived at the venue at 8.40am.
Meawhile, DAP’s candidates, Jimmy Wong, Junz Wong and Hiew King Cheu arrived at 8.35am.
SAPP’s candidates, Yong Teck Lee, Wong Yit Ming and Melanie Chia arrived at the centre at 8.50am.
PKR’s Christina Liew specially got to the venue early at 8.15am as she was worried that history might replay as a candidate in Pensiangan was not able to submit his form in time despite arriving at the nomination centre before cut-off time.
State Reform Party Sabah Chapter’s (STAR) candidates also arrived early by 8.30am.
Marcel Jude Joseph was the only independent candidate of all. The 52-year-old lawyer decided on television as his logo during his contest for Api Api state seat.
Alijus announced the nomination result on 10.30am, adding that all 16 candidates successfully submitted their nomination forms.
One nomination form from independent candidate Attard Alamin was not processed, as his proposer was not registered as a voter in Likas, the constituency the candidate wanted to contest in.
Any nomination must be supported by a proposer and seconder who are registered as voters in the constituency the candidate was contesting in, Alijus explained.
Alijus said the nomination process in the hall was smooth, and the candidates, supporters, media and the staff cooperated in the event.
He added that there were 31 postal voters residing overseas, voting in Kota Kinabalu and its state constituencies.
Application is still open for postal voting for voters residing in the country till 12 midnight on the coming Monday.