PAPAR: The credibility of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Bongawan seat, Datuk Mohamad Alamin, is being questioned as almost two terms into his tenure as Kimanis Member of Parliament (MP), development in the constituency still falls short of public expectations.
Bongawan Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Youth chief Ak Jamaluddin Pg Mohd Yassin (
pic) said the shortfall is evident as even the promises made during the 2020 Kimanis by-election, including the Kimanis Mini Stadium and the Kimanis Community College, remain unfulfilled.
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He said both projects were promoted as major initiatives for youth development, but after nearly five years, residents of Kimanis and Bongawan are still waiting for promises that never materialised.
He said the stadium project never progressed, and the community college—although approved when Tan Sri Anifah Aman was Kimanis MP—saw no follow-up action from Mohamad, raising doubts over his ability to deliver on new pledges.
Jamaluddin said this contrast in leadership reflects the difference between what he described as a “trendsetter” leader like Anifah, the GRS candidate for Bongawan, and Mohamad, whom he claimed lacks the capacity to meet local needs.
He said Mohamad’s performance as Kimanis MP has left development in Bongawan stagnant, further burdened by his duties as Deputy Foreign Minister.
He claimed that even Umno members in Kimanis feel Mohamad is being “greedy” for insisting on contesting Bongawan when the opportunity should be given to younger leaders.
He added that Mohamad could still contribute to Bongawan through his existing role as Kimanis MP, as the parliamentary area covers Bongawan, without needing to seek the state seat.
He said it was unreasonable for Mohamad to seek another mandate when many commitments as MP remain outstanding and when he already has the capacity to assist Bongawan through his parliamentary responsibilities.
He said leaders with stronger networks and more time, such as Anifah, could serve more effectively without needing to hold both parliamentary and state-level positions.
Jamaluddin said Mohamad’s shortcomings extend to current local issues, including the long-abandoned debris of fire-damaged shop lots in Bongawan town which he said symbolises poor management and neglect.
He said the unresolved state of the site shows Mohamad’s inability to plan, lobby or ensure the implementation of development initiatives, even small ones.
He said Mohamad’s performance record, unfulfilled promises and lack of action on basic issues made him unsuitable to receive a mandate in PRN17.
Jamaluddin also said Mohamad’s reliance on top Umno leaders from Peninsular Malaysia to bolster his campaign highlights his lack of confidence in his own local machinery.
He said such dependence runs counter to Sabah’s long-standing pursuit of political autonomy under the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He added that the situation creates an impression that Bongawan is short of leaders to the point of needing intervention from outside the state.
He said the people of Bongawan therefore, want a representative who is capable, grounded and committed to MA63, and he pointed to Anifah as an example of a leader whose record in championing MA63 is well established.
He said Anifah had long pursued MA63 implementation, even when doing so placed him at odds with the political tide during his tenure as Kimanis MP and as Foreign Minister under the previous BN government.
