PENAMPANG: Sabah MCA is confident of retaining its single state seat in Sabah and is fully prepared to assist other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in their campaign for the coming general elections.
Its state deputy chairman cum Penampang division chief, Senator Datuk Paul Kong, said MCA was ever ready to face the elections should it be called any time.
“Election is not due until April next year but there has been a lot of speculation that it will be called in the next few months and it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to decide.
“We in the MCA have always been ready and prepared for the elections, and I can assure you that we will deliver, especially as MCA only has one seat in Sabah,” he told reporters when met at the division’s Chinese New Year open house at Buhavan Square here.
MCA currently represents the Kepayan state constituency, held by its state chief Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai.
Commenting on the open house, Kong said the hosting of the event was of great importance to MCA Penampang as it symbolises the unity and solidarity of the people and the leaders in the area under the BN.
Wishing everyone a happy Chinese New Year, he expressed hope that the support towards each other and understanding among the BN component parties in Sabah will continue to remain strong.
“The unity among the people as well as the leaders, especially here in Penampang, has always been strong all the while, as proven by the leaders from various ethnics attending the open house today.
As you can see, we have people not only from the Tionghua communities but also other ethnics joining in our Chinese New Year celebration.
“We also have leaders from the KDM and other ethnics attending.
So it is a big and meaningful event for us, not only for celebrating the new year but also for strengthening the 1Malaysia concept.
Penampang member of parliament cum Minister of Commodities and Plantation Industries Tan Sri Bernard Dompok was the guest of honor at the event.
Also present were Sabah
MIC chief Datuk V Jothi and Kota Kinabalu mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir, amongst others.
To another question, Kong responded by saying that Penampang is currently one of the fastest developing districts in Sabah.
Located next door to Kota Kinabalu, he said Penampang has enjoyed the same rapid growth as in the capital city, with numerous commercial and housing projects having been completed and with lots more coming up in the area.