PENAMPANG: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali has denied speculation that he will contest the Pantai Manis seat under the GRS ticket in the upcoming 17th General Election (GE17).
He said he has no intention of contesting any state assembly seat, choosing instead to focus on his existing responsibilities as a full Federal Minister and a Member of Parliament for Papar.
“Regarding this issue, I actually responded long ago that I have no intention of contesting any state seat, including Pantai Manis in this coming State poll.
“I believe my current responsibilities are already substantial and challenging enough,” Armizan said, dismissing the speculation that has been circulating widely among the people of Papar that he will contest in Pantai Manis seat so that he could become the next Chief Minister.
He said this to reporters during a press conference held in conjunction with ‘My Gaya Sabah 2025’** program officiated by the consort of the Head of State, Toh Puan Faridah Tussin and organized by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) at ITCC here on Saturday.
Also present were the wife of the caretaker Chief Minister, Datin Seri Juliah Salag and other fashion designers and women leaders.
Armizan, who is also the Minister of KPDN, said he hopes that after 17th State Election (PRN17), the Pantai Manis seat will be represented by a GRS assemblyman, further strengthening cooperation with his office.
He said the Papar parliamentary constituency covers three state seats — Pantai Manis, Limbahau, and Kawang — and that close collaboration among GRS representatives would create a strong team to drive development in the area.
“I hope there will be a representative from Pantai Manis, ideally from GRS, with whom I can work closely because, God willing, we will also have GRS representatives from Kawang and Limbahau.
“This will make us a strong and united team capable of bringing more meaningful and valuable progress to each constituency, especially within the Papar parliamentary area,” he said.
