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SABAH SURVEYS | When talking about Klias, one cannot help but discuss the political roller coaster experienced by the state assembly seat that falls under the Beaufort parliamentary constituency.
This is because over the past three terms, the area has shown that even after winning a great victory and serving the people well, its elected representative will not be guaranteed re-election in the next term.
In the twelfth general election in 2008, the only female contender in a five-corner contest for the seat, Azizah Mohd Dun (above) of the BN, won easily with a majority of 2,413 votes, far behind his closest PKR contender, Abdul Rahman Mohd Yakub, and three independent candidates.
Despite her good record, Azizah was not chosen to defend the seat in the 13 general elections in 2013, stepping aside for the BN candidate and Klias politician Isnin Aliasnih to oppose, who the coalition hoped. to continue his legacy in the district.
However, the strategy failed when PKR’s Lajim Ukin defeated Isnin, albeit with a slim majority of 179 votes.
At the same time, Lajim was unable to defend his parliamentary seat in Beaufort when he lost to Azizah by a small majority of 672 votes, although he had previously won in a widely popular one-on-one fight with PKR’s Lajim Mohd Yusof.
In the contest called ‘Lajim vs Lajim’, he left with a large majority of 10,000 votes.
Lajim was no stranger to BN because he was the former Beaufort Umno division chief who jumped into the PKR just before the 13th general election.
As the country grappled with the political tsunami that followed the downfall of the long-standing BN coalition in various states in the 14th general election in 2018, Klias witnessed a different scenario as Isnin managed to avenge his loss to Lajim.
He came back in force with a 2,000-vote majority despite facing a fierce three-way fight with Warisan’s Lajim and Johair Mat Lani.
Fast forward to two years later, Sabah is witnessing another election, its 16th state election, following the dissolution of the Warisan-led state government, headed by Acting Chief Minister Shafie Apdal, on July 30.
This time, the state elections will see another fierce fight for the Klias seat.
Interestingly, Isnin, the incumbent assemblyman now with Bersatu under Perikatan Nasional, is being assisted in his campaign by party member Lajim Ukin, whom he defeated in the thirteenth general election.
In addition to Isnin, the other contenders for the seat are Abdul Rahman Mohd Yakub from PKR, who participated in the 12th general election, Maksit Saidi (Gagasan), Abdullah Okin (PCS), Amsir Dani (Usno) and independent candidate Jismit Japong.
Such is the political scene in the Klias constituency with its ups and downs, where offers to develop the area are far more significant than national issues and can win over undecided voters. – Named
Follow Malaysiakini’s coverage of Sabah’s state elections here.
