KINABATANGAN: The sentiment in favour of local Sabah-based parties remains strong among voters in Kinabatangan, said Warisan’s parliamentary candidate Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman, based on feedback he has received during several days of campaigning in the constituency.
Saddi said voters he met during door-to-door visits and community engagements expressed a clear preference for leadership rooted in local parties, particularly at the parliamentary level, reflecting a broader shift in Sabah’s political landscape.
“Voters today are responding to local parties. They want to see local parties lead the government in the future,” he said during his campaign activities here.
According to Saddi, the sentiment was not unexpected, as recent general and state elections had shown strong support for Sabah-based parties across the state.
“Local parties have already gained a large majority in Sabah. Ideally, local parties should be governing, but politics can change in an instant,” he said.
In the context of the Kinabatangan by-election, Saddi said he hoped voters would choose leaders whose political background was grounded in local parties, not only in specific areas such as Tongod and Kuamut, but across the entire parliamentary constituency, including Sukau and Lamag.
He also expressed confidence in Warisan’s chances of securing the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat, saying the party appeared to be gaining momentum as the campaign progressed.
“If you ask me about support, I feel we are already one step ahead. I am confident Warisan can take this seat and win the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency this time,” he said.
Saddi, who is a former Sukau assemblyman, said there were clear signals from voters that they were seeking change and a new political direction, with an emphasis on Sabah-based leadership.
“The old era has passed. This is a new era, and I can see signals from the people that they want leadership from local parties in Sabah,” he added.
He also acknowledged the challenges of campaigning in Kinabatangan, one of Sabah’s largest parliamentary constituencies, where some areas are only accessible by river, requiring travel by boat.
Despite these logistical challenges, Saddi said he was encouraged by the responses he received from voters throughout the constituency, reinforcing his belief that support for local parties remained strong on the ground.
Polling for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election is scheduled for Jan 24.
