GE14 | Caretaker Johor menteri besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin yesterday sought to reach out to the sizeable Sabah diaspora in Pasir Gudang, telling them that there was no need to seek out Warisan as he was there for them.

"The Sabah community must understand the aspirations of Bangsa Johor and how they want to develop their state.

"They want a government where Sabahans will not be directionless or seek out Warisan when they want to vote as Warisan is not contesting here.

"The one contesting here is me and my heart is here," he told some 500 Sabahans in Bukit Dahlia, Pasir Gudang last night.

Apart from defending his Permas state seat, Khaled is also contesting the Pasir Gudang state seat where a significant East Malaysia diaspora is present due to a major port there where thousands are employed and related industries.

Many Sabahans still vote in their home state but some have relocated their address to Pasir Gudang, a parliamentary seat which BN won by a thin 935-vote majority.

While Khaled's words were intended to convince the Sabah diaspora in Johor, it also appeared to acknowledge that the less than two-year-old Warisan, led by former Umno leader Shafie Apdal, has emerged as a formidable force against BN in Sabah, noted political observers.

In his speech, Khaled urged the Sabah diaspora to integrate with "Bangsa Johor".

"This (Johor) government is a BN government. After 10 to 15 years, I think it is time for Sabahans here to be seriously involved in the politics of our state," he said.

Khaled said he wanted Sabahans to be represented in Johor and promised to appoint more leaders from their community.

Read more: In Pasir Gudang, deep Sarawakian roots hold back kingmakers

The Johor government already has a Sabah community leader, which is a salaried position paid by the state.

Khaled added that Sabahans were also allowed to apply for affordable housing in Johor.

"So, the Sabah community can propose suitable candidates and we will increase the number of Sabah community leaders.

'With all these, slowly, we can see that the Sabah community is being accepted?in Johor, particularly Pasir Gudang," he said.

It?is estimated that 20,000 East Malaysians reside in Pasir Gudang.

However, only an estimated 1,664 Sabahan bumiputra and 1,748 Sarawakian bumiputra are registered as Pasir Gudang voters.

Nonetheless, with BN winning Pasir Gudang by a slim majority, the more than 3,000 East Malaysian votes can decide Khaled's fate in the parliamentary seat.