Kota Kinabalu: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) plans to request at least three seats in the upcoming Sabah state election, reflecting its ambition for greater representation in the state.
Its President Datuk Chin Su Phin said the party had never stopped working on seats it has been eyeing, and it is confident it is getting the people’s support.
However, he said the number of seat the party is able to contest in the end is still up to decisions from discussions with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and other Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component parties.
“If we think we have a strong chance in certain seats where we have worked hard, we will make our case to the Chief Minister and GRS. However, we cannot make any announcements yet as nothing has been confirmed.
“What we are seeing now is a significant shift in sentiment across Sabah. Local parties, especially in Chinese-majority areas, have a strong appeal,” he said.
He noted that the preference for local leadership extends beyond the Chinese community as it also includes the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) and Sabah Bumiputera Muslim communities.
“Many Sabahans now want local parties to take charge. This reflects a broader desire for self-representation and greater unity, much like what we see in Sarawak,” he added.
Chin also highlighted the current uncertainty in Sabah’s political landscape, suggesting that clarity would only come after the dissolution of the state assembly.
“Right now, the picture is not clear, but once the assembly is dissolved, we’ll have a better understanding of how things stand,” he said.
He said grassroots feedback indicates a strong call for Sabahans to unite under local leadership to strengthen the state’s position.
“Generally, the people want to see Sabahans united, similar to what Sarawak has achieved. That’s what we’re hearing on the ground,” Chin said.
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