KOTA KINABALU: Following speculations that the Sabah state election could be held earlier this year, DAP Sabah has launched its election preparation machinery in three parliamentary seats and seven state seats in the Interior.
DAP Sabah secretary Chan Foong Hin disclosed when he launched the DAP Interior Election Preparation Workshop in Keningau Service Centre on Friday, DAP Sabah would contest in Keningau, Tenom and Pensiangan, and the state seats under these parliamentary seats.
The workshop was organized by Adrian Lasimbang, the Political Education Director for DAP Sabah cum Pensiangan coordinator.
In Chan’s opening speech, he expressed his appreciation towards Peter Saili, DAP Keningau chief cum DAP Sabah vice chairman, for his hardwork to expand the party network in Interior, and being active for these past few years.
“From only one state seat contested in last election, which was Melalap, now DAP has confidence to deliver the Interior seats for Pakatan Harapan,” he said.
Chan emphasized that DAP would not claim for those seats without proven work record.
“We are not the party to conduct roadshow, offering lucky draw to attract attendance and then claim the seats without doing solid work on the ground. We have been continuously delivering Impian Sabah projects to empower the rural folks with small scale infrastructural projects, conducing socio economic workshops to uplift the people’s skill to earn a living, educational camp and mobile health service. We are not the party which only appear in the eve of election. We reject hit and run political culture,” he stressed.
After having dialogue with the local leaders, Chan who is also the Election Preparation Director for the party, was amazed with their political awareness.
“Our members have understood the party’s struggle. They know how to use social media to highlight the issues. One of the good examples was an electrical pole in Pensiangan without electricity which not only has invited aggressive responses from Joseph Kurup, the Barisan Nasional minister cum MP for Pensiangan, but also the fast reaction by SESB to install the power there. This is the right to differ which can bring change to the community!”
He further urged the members not to disappointed and confused by the current political scenario where a number of opposition parties have emerged like mushrooms after the rain.
“It’s normal in Sabah politics. Let us focus on our ground work to take on BN.”