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KOTA KINABALU: Multi-corner contests are shaping up to virtually 73 seats as parties finalize their candidates for the Sept. 26 state election.
Following the announcements of the disputed parties, political observers here consider that three- to five-corner fights would be the norm in almost all seats.
They said seats like Api Api here would see at least eight to nine candidates in the race and a similar number was expected at Tanjong Kapor in the northernmost Kudat district.
Observers said that, in addition to Warisan Plus and the Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional alliance, they were anticipating that other parties will contest the 73 seats. That includes Gagasan Sabah.
Smaller parties, such as the PCS, have indicated that they would present candidates for up to 60 seats. LDP, Usno and Parti Harapan hope to contest 40 seats.
Observers said they were anticipating that probably as many as two or three independent candidates could also compete for each of the 73 seats.
Although Warisan Plus, BN-PN and PCS were scheduled to announce their candidate lists tomorrow, sources from these groups said that the negotiations and the “horse swap” were still ongoing tonight.
Political analyst Lee Kuok Tiung of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said that smaller parties and independent candidates will likely face difficulties in gaining ground among Sabah voters.
“These independents don’t have a lot of time to come forward and establish themselves among the voters,” he said.
“Voters here tend to choose known political parties, names or figures,” he said, adding that Warisan Plus could benefit if the votes were “split” in multi-corner contests.
In this regard, he said that PCS President Anifah Aman and others such as Pandikar Amin Mula (who runs Usno) and Liew Yun Fah (from Parti Harapan) could have an impact.
