By Yussof J. Imbang
SANDAKAN: There is a drastic need for the Sabah People’s Alliance Party (Gagasan Rakyat) to field a candidate to contest the Sekong State Assembly (DUN) seat as a guaranty that the Sabah People’s Coalition (GRS) will seize the seat before the upcoming 17th State Election (PRN-17), says the party’s Vise President, Datuk Masiung Banah.
Based on my research from multiple visits to the relevant state constituency, he stated that it is evident Gagasan Rakyat enjoys 68 percent support from the people compared to other parties in the GRS and Pakatan Rakyat (PH) coalitions.
“I assure you that Gagasan Rakyat has significant potential to win in the area and take the Sekong state seat from the Warisan party,” he mentioned shortly after visiting the Gagasan Rakyat Sekong ‘War Room’ on Saturday.
According to Masiung, who also serves as the Chairman of Zone 10 of the Sandakan Gagasan Rakyat, the party led by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Noor has evidently become the top choice for individuals from all backgrounds in Sekong.
However, he did not provide a positive guarantee regarding the participation of other parties within GRS and PH in contesting the state assembly seats on the East Coast.
The Kuamut assemblyman highlighted that the comprehensive reciprocal reports from all seven Polling District Centers (PDM) in Sekong clearly indicated that Gagasan Rakyat, the backbone of GRS, has a strong presence in the area.
Statistics from Gagasan Rakyat reveal that they are significantly ahead of other parties looking to field candidates in Sekong.
“The insights from independent entities and the intelligence from the uniformed Special Branch Unit must be considered to avoid undermining GRS’s chances in Sekong during this 17th state election,” he added.
Masiung was joined by the Karamunting assemblyman, who is also the deputy chairman of zone 10, Datuk George Hiew, during a brief visit to the Sekong Gagasan Rakyat office.
Meanwhile, Hiew expressed his confidence in Gagasan Rakyat, which boasts over 300 branches in Sekong, believing that the Warisan seat in the area is winnable.
He noted that the involvement of other parties within the GRS and PH components could enhance Gagasan Rakyat’s influence in the relevant areas.
Both leaders of Gagasan Rakyat are optimistic that the opposition seat can be secured if GRS fields Gagasan Rakyat to contest in that region.
