SANDAKAN: Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir has expressed his willingness to contest one of the state seats within his parliamentary constituency in the upcoming Sabah election, contingent upon the absence of other UMNO candidates.
During an Aidil Fitri event in Libaran on Saturday, Suhaimi stated, “I’m already an MP, and I may not plan to contest, but if there is no other candidate, I will step up.” He emphasized the importance of all three state seats contributing to the formation of the next Sabah government.
Libaran encompasses three state constituencies: Sungai Manila, Sungai Sibuga, and Gum Gum. Suhaimi, who is also Sabah UMNO information chief, reiterated UMNO’s commitment to defending all three Libaran seats, regardless of any political collaborations that may arise.
“For Libaran, Barisan Nasional has ensured it will contest all three seats. Regardless of which coalitions may come into play, we will fight for Gum Gum to be contested by Barisan Nasional,” he affirmed.
“If there is no agreement, then it will be free for all.”
The Gum Gum seat is currently held by Warisan assemblyman Arunarnsin Taib, who defeated Suhaimi in the 2020 election.
In addition to his electoral ambitions, Suhaimi addressed growing frustrations among Libaran residents regarding deteriorating infrastructure and stalled development since 2018.
“Before 2018, when Barisan Nasional was in government, we didn’t face major issues with roads, water, or electricity,” he remarked, citing a sudden power cut during the event as an example of the decline in services.
“What the people in Libaran want is comfort, continuity in development, and the smooth delivery of infrastructure projects. But many efforts have stalled — and it’s not the fault of the people or local leaders, but the government that has failed to deliver on its promises,” he added.
Suhaimi stressed that UMNO’s presence in all three seats is crucial for regaining momentum in development and fulfilling the long-awaited needs of the community. – James Leong
