RANAU: Incumbent Karanaan Assemblyman and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidate, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, urged voters not to allow anger, disappointment or misunderstandings to influence their vote, warning that such emotions could harm GRS.
Highlighting Sarawak, he said not changing the government even once enabled the state to rogress steadily.
“Look at Sarawak, they have not changed governments which allows them to focus on development.
Sabah will never progress if we keep changing governments over small issues. Let there be no confusion.”
He reminded that the Nov. 29 Sabah polls carry consequences far beyond individual preference.
“Don’t refuse to support a candidate just because you are upset or because of a misunderstanding. The party and the government are more important than any single candidate,” he said, adding that GRS has only one official candidate in Kundasang Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Joachim Gunsalam. He denied claims that other contenders were associated with the coalition.
“There is no such thing as an ‘Independent GRS’. Anyone claiming to represent GRS is not speaking the truth. There is only one GRS candidate in Kundasang, and that is Joachim,” he said.
Masidi, who is defending his Karanaan seat, had been actively rallying grassroots support for Joachim, making multiple visits to Kundasang in recent days.
On his way to another venue earlier that day, he also stopped to meet voters to repeat the same message: “Vote Joachim, vote GRS.” He reminded voters that the election is not a beauty contest nor a personality comparison.
“We are not voting for who is more handsome or who is younger. We are voting to decide whether GRS will return to govern the state. That is the real issue.”
“If you have small misunderstandings or feel hurt, put that aside for now. Settle it after the election. All candidates are good people. But on Nov 29, the question isn’t who is good — it is whether GRS continues to govern or not,” he said.
Masidi also advised Karanaan voters to vote early, assuring that transportation had been arranged. He reminded those who struggle to read or see to request help only from authorised party representatives at polling stations.
He also cautioned that low turnout could create space for electoral fraud. “Sometimes, the ones clever at cheating are the ones who don’t work. So make sure you vote.”
