KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah is all geared up to wrest back the Kimanis parliamentary seat in next month’s by-election.
The party’s secretary-general Datuk Loretto S. Padua said they would call a meeting soon to start work on the by-election, with the focus being on the party’s election machinery.
"In fact, we have had several meetings and in terms of preparation, we are prepared," he said.
Earlier today, the Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun announced Jan 18 as polling day for the Kimanis parliamentary seat by-election.
The nomination day falls on Jan 4, while early voting will take place on Jan 14.
On whether Warisan’s Kimanis division chief Datuk Karim Bujang will be re-nominated for the seat or whether another name will be nominated, Loretto said party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal would announce the potential candidacy.
On whether Warisan expects the going to be tough in the by-election, he said the party would not take the by-election lightly.
Meanwhile, Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) information chief Khairul Firdaus Akhbar said they would assist Warisan candidate to win the Kimanis parliamentary seat.
He said the by-election would be an opportunity for Sabah Bersatu to build ties with Warisan as there were tensions between supporters of the two parties.
In the 14th General Election (GE14) Karim lost the Kimanis seat to former Umno leader Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who contested under BN logo, in a three-cornered fight.
Anifah, who is now independent, retained his seat with 56-vote majority, securing 11,942 votes against Karim’s 11,786 votes. Another candidate, Jaafar Ismail of Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, obtained 1,300 votes.
The Kimanis by-election is being held after the Federal Court on Dec 1 upheld the Special Election Court's decision in August last year which nullified Anifah's victory in the GE14.
Although Warisan has not announced its candidate, there is speculation that Karim is likely to contest again.
Umno is expected to nominate a candidate after its state party liason chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin confirmed that they will be fielding a contender.
During its recent meeting, Umno identified several potential candidates. It is rumoured that Kimanis Umno chief Datuk Mohamad Alamin is leading the list of potential candidates.
Meanwhile, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili said they were studying sentiments on the ground whether or not the party should contest in the by-election.
"EC has just announced the date ... we still need to know what Datuk Seri Anifah's plans are," he said.