PAPAR: United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) confirmed plans to contest in more than two constituencies in the coming 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17).
It was learnt that Upko was only given two seats to contest. Besides Kadamaian and Limbahau, it is believed that Upko is eyeing Moyog and some KDM areas.
In the 2020 Sabah election Upko contested 12 seats under the then Warisan Plus coalition but only won in Kadamaian retained by Datuk Ewon Benedick.
While in 2018 (GE14) Upko (which was part of the then Barisan Nasional (BN) government), contested five parliamentary seats and 12 state seats and won Tuaran parliament which was retained by Datuk Madius Tangau and one State seat in Kadamaian.
After GE14, Upko left BN and joined the Warisan-led government. In Nov 2021, Upko joined the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, formally, alongside PKR, DAP and Amanah, until now.
Upko Sec-Gen Datuk Senator Nelson W. Angang said the decision was made after careful discussions and is confident about its readiness to contest those seats.
“We are ready to go for more than two seats,” Nelson said at the Upko Papar Convention officiated by President Ewon.
“Whatever the coalition thinks, Upko has decided it will contest more than two seats.
“As for others who believe that we (Upko) should only contest two seats, well that is their opinion. The party has decided otherwise,” he said.
Nelson, whose mother is originally from Limbahau, confirmed his intention to contest the Limbahau state seat.
“Both the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister are aware of this. We made our intentions clear from the beginning.
“Furthermore, Upko has been active in Papar for 31 years, and for the first time, we are offering to contest the Limbahau seat,” he said.
On Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) incumbent Datuk Juil Nuatim who won the seat under Warisan before joining GRS as a direct member, Nelson said there is no issue as the State Legislative Assembly had been dissolved.
"There’s no issue of us trespassing or encroaching. This is part of the democratic process.
“We believe the voters in Limbahau are mature and understand what needs to be done,” he said.
“Back in 2020, when the Limbahau seat was created, Upko actually requested to contest the seat. I know there were discussions between Datuk Madius and the Chief Minister.
"But the Chief Minister decided to give the seat to Juil. So, we see Warisan as the incumbent party.
“Usually, when it comes to seat negotiations, the ‘rules of incumbency’ come into play. That’s the first principle — we look at the party that last held the seat.
“Due to that, and since Warisan has now decided to go solo and is currently in the opposition at the state level, it’s only right for Upko to come forward and offer itself in Limbahau,” Nelson said.
