The Malaysian Insight

DAP can never resolve Sandakan’s woes, said Maximus Ongkili ahead of the parliamentary seat’s by-election on Saturday.

The Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president said the Pakatan Harapan component is akin to “the old Umno”, whose state chiefs relied on national leaders to make decisions for them.

“PBS is not parochial. We are also not questioning Vivian Wong… but in reality, they don’t understand Sabah and Sandakan’s issues,” he said, referring to the DAP candidate.

“(DAP is unlike) PBS, a Sabah party whose leaders talk from the heart… about Sabah issues,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He said a DAP lawmaker “would not be so free” to raise Sandakan’s concerns in Parliament as they must “check with their party first”.

“This will not be the case with PBS. We have fielded a good candidate (former Batu Sapi MP Linda Tsen), who is not only loyal to PBS, but is also a Sandakan leader with no ties to national leaders.”

Ongkili, who is PBS’ sole federal lawmaker, representing Kota Marudu, said if Tsen wins the by-election, he will assist her in raising issues affecting Sandakan in Parliament. – May 7, 2019.