LABUAN: With Umno deciding to go solo in the Johore and Negeri Sembilan state polls, Pakatan Harapan (PH), in response, is similarly going for the Labuan MP seat, which is traditionally an Umno seat.
This is how political observers see it when PKR recently relocated its office to a prominent location in town, which is on the third floor of the landmark Chinese Chamber building.
Activist Lau Seng Kiat said the political buddy relationship with Umno has ended with Umno’s move in Negeri Sembilan and Johore.
Lau expects a similar scenario in other areas as well.
According to Labuan PKR Chairman Samsudin Sidek, the new office is to provide easy access and efficient service to those needing it.
PKR has been here for years and had its office sited at various locations, but the present one is the most striking.
The party had always eyed for the Labuan seat as Labuan is a financial hub. Another reason is most of the MP seats are under DAP’s grip and having Labuan in the bag would give PH a clean slate in Federal Territory.
In the last general election, two-term Umno MP Datuk Seri Suhaili Abdul Rahman contested the seat under Bersatu and won with a narrow 708-vote majority in a six-cornered fight, with Umno’s Datuk Bashir Alias on the second spot.
PH contested under Amanah and its candidate Dr Ramli Tahir collected 5,307 votes, believed to be mostly Chinese votes Warisan won before it switched to Amanah as it was a partner of PH like DAP.
The result signals PH’s support in Labuan and the weakening grip of Umno. Best PH achievement was in the 2013 election when it fielded a strong corporate personality, Tan Srti Ibrahim Menudin, who polled over 6,000 votes though lost.
The present situation of Labuan in that it has a “partyless” MP since Suhaili has switched his support to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Bersatu has disowned him.
Labuan has always been regarded as an Umno stronghold, having won most of the elections since 1986.
Bersatu is not giving up as recently it set up a pro-tem committee, while Warisan is till around and GRS is showing interest in Labuan.
