Sabah’s USA has ‘almost finalised’ GE14 seats allocation

KOTA KINABALU - The four parties in the opposition in Sabah making up the United Sabah Alliance (USA), or Gabungan Sabah, have “almost finalised” a decision on which seats each is to contest in the next general election.

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee said they would make adjustments if the additional 13 new state constituencies proposed by the Election Commission took effect in the 14th general election.

The USA comprises SAPP, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan) and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS).

“If the 60 state seats are maintained in the next election, SAPP will contest in 13 to 15 of the seats where we have grassroots support and winnability,” Yong was quoted as saying by The Borneo Post.

SAPP plans to contest mostly in the west coast, including Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Tanjung Aru and Sepanggar.

“The constituencies are either Chinese majority or mixed,” he said at a press conference during a walkabout organised by the Sepanggar division of USA, at Inanam, yesterday. Yong is USA Sepanggar chairman.

The walkabout was to introduce USA and the goals it was hoping to achieve for Sabah to the locals. Also participating were SAPP Inanam division chairman Eric Majimbun, STAR Inanam division chairman Jeffrey Kumin and Harapan Sepanggar division chairman Ashim Jamat.

According to the report, Yong expects GE14 to be held during the school holidays in March or April next year.

On the possibility of working with Parti Warisan Sabah, Yong said USA would give Warisan time to sort out its internal affairs and the problems it was facing over graft allegations against some top members.

“Maybe we will sit down and have a discussion with Warisan after the Chinese New Year,” The Borneo Post quoted him as saying.