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N.20 Api-Api

THIS constituency is effectively downtown Kota Kinabalu. Api-Api was the nickname of the old Jesselton because of a big fire that destroyed most part of the coastal village. People escaping the fire later called it Api-Api before the British colonists called it Jesselton named after Sir Jessel.

In fact, until today the unofficial name in Chinese of the State Capital is still Api. When the Chinese from China first wanted to set up their Consulate here, the local Chinese community hoped they would call it Api in Chinese but the Chinese insisted on Kota Kinabalu since it was the official name.

In the recent election, Api-Api saw a five-cornered fight, a rather small number for the State Capital. The incumbent was Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew of PKR but she did not seek re-election.

Liew first won Api-Api in 2013 on a PKR ticket. She became famous instantly as a Giant Killer when she defeated then incumbent and Deputy Chief Minister, DSP Dr Yee Koh Chai of PBS. At that time PKR was in the Opposition and PBS part of the State Government. 

In 2018, there was a rematch between Liew and Dr Yee. This time, Liew increased her majority to almost 3,000. On paper, Dr Yee got more or less the same number of votes as in 2013. 

But where did Liew’s extra 3,000 votes come from? Well, 2018 was the year that BN/Umno/PBS lost control of both the Federal and State Governments so no explanation is needed.

Upon the formation of the Warisan+ state government, Liew was made a DCM, the first Chinese woman to hold the post. She was also Tourism Minister. But all good things must come to an end and Liew lost her job when Warisan+ failed to form the government again after the 2020 election.

In the 2020 election, Liew increased her majority even higher – more than 5,000 votes. This was despite PKR no longer a part of the Federal Government then but Warisan+ to which PKR belonged was still the ruling coalition in Sabah.

Dr Yee went in again, perhaps for the last time, and got a red nose. After that he more or less called it a day but he remains PBS deputy president (Chinese quota).

Warisan+ lost the state government in 2020 and PN+BN+PBS formed the new government. Liew accordingly lost her Cabinet post but not for long. 

You see, after the 2020 election, Warisan slowly disassociated itself from PKR and DAP. So much so that a Warisan leader was reported to have said that “Now no more Warisan+, only Warisan-“.

Fast forward to January 2023, there was a coup allegedly involving Umno and Warisan to topple the GRS (formerly PN) government led by CM Hajiji. PKR and DAP threw their weight behind Hajiji and the rest is history. Pay back time.

Liew was appointed Tourism Minister again but this time minus the DCMship. She remained in the Ministry until the recent election which she did not contest.

She has proven herself as both a leader and a Minister. And she had been with PKR at a time when people shy away because PKR was in the Opposition and Anwar was in jail; his wife Kak Wan taking charge. 

Api-Api as a State Constituency was created and contested for the first time in 1985, the year that PBS was born and defeated Berjaya. It was carved out from Likas and Kota Kinabalu. The first Assemblyman was Datuk Chau Tet On who was YB from 1985 to 1999. 

However, after the collapse of the PBS government in 1994 he joined MCA, after rumours said he would join LDP. After he dumped PBS, the next day there was a huge billboard at the Kg Air Roundabout saying “Chau Tet On SOLD”. May his soul rest in peace.

In 1999, Chau tried to defend his Api-Api seat by standing on an BN-MCA ticket. He got 5,963 votes against Dr Yee’s 9,146. Mind you, PBS was in the Opposition then. Nothing much was heard of Chau since apart from him trying to groom young Sabah MCA leaders none of whom had won until today. 

As stated earlier, incumbent Liew did not seek re-election. As a replacement, PKR put Thonny Chee, the former CEO of Sri Pelancongan, a subsidiary of Liew’s Tourism Ministry.

Thonny is a Sino-Rungus from the Pitas area near Kudat. He was the PKR candidate for Kudat in the 2020 parliamentary election. He lost.

In the recent election, Thonny obtained 2,996 votes as opposed to winner Loi Kok Liang of Warisan’s 6,061 votes. That is a majority of 3,065 votes. In other words, Thonny only got half of what Loi got.

Why the big difference, considering that Api-Api has been a stronghold of PKR since 2013? Don’t underestimate the power of whisper-campaign.

During the two-week campaign period, everywhere I went including coffeeshops and eateries, I heard whisper of not to vote for West Malaysian parties (like PKR and DAP).

Loi is a former State athlete. In his maiden speech in the Assembly recently, he urged the State Government not to forget all those who had contributed to Sabah through sports. 

They should not be forgotten just like that, he added, apparently also referring to himself. 

Thonny is not Chinese-educated and speak little Chinese in general and Mandarin in particular. This did not work in his favour in the Chinese-majority area called Api-Api.

To make things worse, his political opponents brought up the subject of whether he was actually a qualified lawyer as some claimed. He declined comment in order not to make things worse, but his party colleagues said Thonny never claimed to be one. Anyway, looking at the results, it doesn’t matter now.

PM Anwar personally introduced Thonny to the public and not all expected him to lose. The night before Anwar’s announcement, there was a dinner attended by a crowd in Penampang. The dinner was supposedly to announcement the candidacy of a businessman (not Thonny) and attended by a PKR Vice-President. 

But Anwar did not attend the Penampang dinner as rumoured and announced Thonny as the candidate the following night.

What I did not expect is the extent of the damage caused by the whisper-campaigning. Coupled with news of new people joining Warisan every other day. Of course there were people joining GRS too.

I expect a tough fight for DAP and PKR in Sabah. What I did not expect was DAP lost all the 8 seats it contested. What I did not expect was PKR won only one. 

Even then, it was common knowledge that the victorious PKR candidate was actually the PGRS leader in Melalap and ‘joined’ PKR only days before Nomination.

By contrast, BN got 6 seats (5 from Umno and 1 PBRS). That’s 3 seats more than Upko’s 3 and 4 more than Star’s 2. So nobody should complain that an Umno Assemblyman was made a Minister. He more than deserved it. Just like Christina Liew, Jaffry was made Tourism Minister a second time. In other words, he is not new to the job and got cracking from Day 1.

The lone PBRS winner, Datuk Arthur Kurup, became a Giant Killer when he defeated former GRS-Star Minister Datuk Ellron Angin. 

And the majority was big. Little wonder the former young Deputy Minister in KL was promoted to full Minister in the recent Federal Cabinet Reshuffle. Congrats Arthur.

Also promoted to full Minister was Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. This marks the first time that a PKR MP from Sabah was made a full Federal Minister. 

Although Mustapha did not contest in the recent State election, his promotion is understandable as Anwar prepares PKR Sabah for the next parliamentary election due in less than two years. 

Mustapha is the MP for Sepanggar. Apart from Api-Api, the incumbent Assemblyman in Inanam (part of Sepanggar) also lost.

The appointment of PBS MP for Tawau, Datuk Lo Su Fui as a Deputy Minister is a pleasant and welcome surprise. PBS also won 6 seats in the recent State election and his appointment is seen as promoting PBS’ chances in the coming nationwide election, especially in Tawau, a Chinese area.

PBS acting President DSP Dr Joachim Gunsalam is now a senior and important member of the State Cabinet. He rose from DCM 3 to DCM 2 then finally and recently DCM 1. That was the position once enjoyed by Pairin and Jeffrey.

And he was given the important portfolio of Public Works (PWD) just like Pairin once was. Things are looking good for PBS. Hajiji is not a forgetful or unappreciative person. He will always remember that PBS under Joachim did not join Star in quitting GRS and go it alone. For argument’s sake, had PBS also quit GRS, there is no guarantee that it will win the 6 seats that it got.

In conclusion, it takes wisdom to be a good and fair leader. I am referring to CM Hajiji. For example, LDP did not demand to stand in the election and they were rewarded with a Nominated Assemblyman seat. 

Normally it would go to the party president but in LDP’s case it was given to their secretary-general, Datuk Chin Shu Yin. An engineer, he is brother of LDP president Datuk Chin Shu Pin who is already enjoying pension as an ex-Senator. He spoke Bahasa Malaysia fluently in the Assembly recently.

Similarly, the new PKR chairperson of its KK Division, Puan Grace Lee, was not chosen as the candidate. Patience has its reward and she was appointed a Nominated Assemblywoman which still makes her a YB. Something which she herself never expected. 

Her appointment means that PKR now has two Assembly Members, the other being the Melalap YB who was made Agriculture Minister in line with his qualification.

Many expected Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun to be the GRS candidate for Moyog in Penampang as he is the PGRS divisional chief there. But he was asked to make way for GRS component PBS which he obliged. 

As a reward, he was made not just a Nominated Assemblyman but even an Assistant Minister, still assisting Hajiji. He was before the election the CM’s senior private secretary. A double promotion, the reward of being obedient.

This then, ladies and gentlemen, is Hajiji. He talks softly and smiles a lot. But don’t take that as a weakness. Don’t underestimate him. He is into his 2nd term as CM and he has said that he won’t want a 3rd.

It is not easy to be a leader. Whatever decision you make, there are bound to be criticisms. No one is perfect. Given the circumstances, I think Hajiji performed rather well. 

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