Not Dambai but Limbahau after all
Published on: Thursday, November 24, 2016
Papar: A new State constituency will be created for the Papar Parliamentary seat, which will bring the number of state seats here from two to three.The new constituency that was initially named as N.27 Dambai has been changed to N.27 Limbahau as granted by the Election Commission (EC) and announced to have a total of 11,654 voters.It is carved out of the existing Pantai Manis and Kawang state constituencies within the Papar Parliamentary constituency which remains unchanged, with a total of 38,771 registered voters in the last general election in 2013.
ADVERTISEMENT
The locals here have begun viewing a Sabah map at the district office showing the draft of a newly drawn election boundaries of 73 State seats including three seats that have been changed its name namely Dambai to Limbahau, here, Manggaris to Bandau in Kota Marudu and Dumpil to Tanjung Keramat in Putatan.These new seats are recommended by EC under its re-delineation exercise for the parliamentary and state constituencies in the state, and put up for display for public viewing and allowed to submit their views, comments and objections for a month from Nov 22 until Dec 21.Deputy Speaker of State Legislative Assembly Datuk Johnny Mositun was among the locals present to view the Sabah map and re-delineation notices put up by the EC at the Papar District Office and they seemed generally satisfied with the change in name from Dambai to Limbahau as the EC's latest proposals.Papar District Officer Adnan Atin and his assistant district officer (development) William Ahlan were also present during Mositun's presence to view the Sabah map with re-delineation notices.
ADVERTISEMENT
"The Election Commission has responded positively to suggestions and objections that were petitioned to it after the re-delineation proposals on the draft of a newly drawn election boundaries displayed in September. "I am, in particular, very glad that the new constituency of Dambai will now to be named as Limbahau that was first agreed upon when asking for an additional state constituency for Papar," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mositun, who is also Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Secretary General said the name Limbahau would not confuse people because it had been in use since 1881 when inland natives began spreading out to Sabah's coastal areas.The proposed new constituency straddles the old Papar Road from Kaiduan near Kinarut to Ovai and parts of Papar District like Biau, Limputong, Surati, Dambai and parts of Pengalat."Limbahau was still is the most heavily populated settlement in this constituency, with schools, chapels and other civic amenities, and not Dambai which is closer to Papar Town. "In fact even today the outstation natives often use Limbahau as the reference for this part of Papar District. There are many more villages in Limbahau area too, and the population is almost exclusively non-Muslim. In fact the Limbahau constituency, including villages near Kg. Dambai and Pengalat, is about 85 per cent non-Muslim Bumiputera. Furthermore, there are villages named Dambai in many other places near and far, as near as Putatan and as far away as Keningau and Ranau. Yes, Limbahau is the most suitable name for this new constituency," said Mositun who is also PBS Pantai Manis Divisional Chief. Asked which Barisan Nasional component would represent Limbahau in the coming general election, he said he would not speculate or pre-empt the Chief Minister, who is also the Sabah BN Chairman or the Prime Minister, National BN Chairman who would decide the BN's distribution of seats to contest and candidates in the general election.On the other hand, Mositun said the BN leadership hears the views of all its component parties before making a final decision. "That is the BN way. We always seek consensus and understanding to face elections united under one banner, the BN banner. That is why BN does better than the divided opposition in elections," he said.On Umno and Upko (both BN components) had asked to represent Limbahau for BN in the upcoming general election, Mositun said it was only natural that Limbahau, being a new seat, would be coveted by many parties including PBS."Of course, Limbahau is a new seat, so anybody can ask for it. It is left to the top BN leadership to consider all requests. The only thing I can say with confidence is, whatever party is chosen, the BN will almost certainly select a non-Muslim Bumiputera candidate for the Limbahau constituency in the next general election," he said.On another note, Mositun said PBS would also stake its claim to represent BN in the Limbahau state seat in the next general election."PBS has all the right credentials and is confident we can deliver the seat for BN in GE 14" he said.Mositun said he and the PBS members in the Pantai Manis division had lobbied the authorities persistently for this predominantly non-Muslim state seat within the Papar Parliamentary constituency."PBS Pantai Manis and Kawang Divisions have established strong and lasting rapport with the local people, both the non-Muslim and Muslim villagers. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
