Non-Muslim Bumis Is Endangered?!

9th March, 2008
Source: http://newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/16626

KOTA KINABALU: The Barisan Nasional coalition easily retained its two-thirds majority in Sabah in yesterday’s general election.

Speaking to reporters at his official residence Sri Gaya here late last night, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman expressed his gratitude to the people of Sabah for returning BN to power, and attributed BN’s big win to the people’s desire to see continued development under a BN government.

“We are the first state in the country to win a two-thirds majority in the state seats.

“The majority of the people in Sabah chose BN parties based on their confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,” said a jubilant Musa.

Musa said the BN government will continue to work hard to bring development to the state.

Asked when he would take his oath as the next Chief Minister, Musa said he would discuss the matter with the Prime Minister and Head of State Tun Haji Ahmadshah Abdullah first.

On BN’s success in wresting back the Kuala Penyu state seat from independent candidate Datuk John Ghani, he said it shows the people of Sabah realise that only the BN government can bring development that will benefit them.

While in the peninsula the opposition made big gains and BN’s two-thirds majority looked under threat, in Sabah the state BN under Musa’s leadership repeated the good showing it showed in the 2004 election. In yesterday’s polls, it again secured 59 out of the 60 state seats and 24 out of the 25 parliamentary seats up for grabs.

BN only lost the Sri Tanjong state and Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seats.

In Kota Kinabalu, DAP’s Hiew King Cheu garnered 9,464 votes to win with a slim 106-vote majority. His rivals were PKR’s Christina Liew, who polled 9,358 votes, PBS’ Chin Tek Ming (8,420 votes) and Independent candidate Kong Yu Kiong (341 votes).

Significantly, BN wrested back the Sandakan parliamentary seat won by Independent candidate Chong Hon Min in 2004. This time around, Datuk VK Liew (LDP) polled 8297 votes to pip DAP’s Chong Chui Lin (8121 votes) and Independent Fong Vun Fui (2929 votes).

Musa, the Sabah Umno chairman, easily retained his Sungai Sibuga state seat, polling 10,570 votes to win his four-cornered fight with a comfortable majority of 7,657 votes.

His nearest rival, PKR’s Ahmad Thamrin Hj Jaini, garnered 2,913 votes, while Osman Bin Enting (Bersekutu) and Gusniah Bin Diong (Independent) managed only 291 and 295 votes respectively.

Voter turnout was 67.41% out of a total of 21,442 registered voters, comprising 74% Muslim Bumiputeras, 3.1% non-Muslim Bumiputeras, 22.5% Chinese and 0.3% others.

In the last general election, Musa won with a 6,670-vote majority out of a voter turnout of 11,351.

In the Libaran parliamentary seat, incumbent Datuk Juslie Ajirol also easily won, albeit with a reduced majority of 7,529 votes compared to 10,669 in the 2004 election. His sole challenger, PKR’s Ahmad Thamrin Hj Zaini, obtained 6,139 votes. Voter turnout was 65.33%.

Incumbent Semporna MP Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal also won easily, garnering 19,419 votes for a bigger majority of 17,462 compared to 13,319 in 2004.

Earlier after nomination, Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh (Kalabakan), Tan Sri Joseph Kurup (Pensiangan), Ramlee Marhaban (Bugaya) and Datuk Zakaria Edris (Gum-Gum) had won uncontested.

In Liawan, incumbent assemblyman Datuk Sairin Karno polled 4,638 votes. His nearest challenger, Jius Awang of PKR, obtained 2,614 votes.

All the other BN component party heads also won in parliamentary seats: Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan (PBS), Tan Sri Bernard Dompok (Upko), Tan Sri Joseh Kurup (PBRS) and Datuk VK Liew (LDP) in Keningau, Penampang, Pensiangan and Sandakan.

Pairin also secured victory over his Tambunan state seat with a 2781-vote majority, while Dompok obtained 13,400 votes for a majority of 3,063 votes. His closest rival, Dr Edwin Bosi of PKR, garnered 10,337 votes.

In the Keningau parliamentary seat, Pairin obtained 14,598 votes to see off his two rivals, PKR’s Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (10,334 votes) and DAP’s Peter Kodou (560 votes).

SAPP deputy president Raymond Tan Shu Kiah also won in Tanjong Papat, while Sabah MCA chairman Datuk Edward Khoo polled 6,162 votes to triumph in Kapayan with a majority of 2,062 votes.

SAPP president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee expressed his gratitude to the people of Sabah for their support to enable the party to retain all the six seats it contested through Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah (Tanjong Papat), Melanie Chia (Luyang), Datuk Liew Teck Chan (Likas), Datuk Eric Majimbun (Sepangar), Datuk Chua Soon Bui (Tawau) and Au Kam Wah (Elopura).

“We will continue to work hard for the people,” he told reporters while watching the live telecast of the election results together with SAPP leaders at the party’s headquarters at Bornion Centre in Luyang here last night.

SAPP will need to analyse the implications of the national results, he added.

Shoot....! Where are all the other non-muslim bumi voters?
Are we really going to be scarce/rare?