SPECIAL REPORT | In the rustic town of Semporna, people go about their daily business. Some tend to their shops while others offer locals the means to get around town in their kereta sapu (unlicensed taxis).

While they may lead different lives, one thing most of them have in common is their love for incumbent parliamentarian Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Many of them, when met by Malaysiakini, did not even use the word suka (like) when describing Shafie, who is currently under remand by the MACC, but instead talked about how they sayang (love) him.

Business owner Rakman Abantas when approached immediately proclaimed that he was a BN supporter but quietly admitted "saya sayang Shafie" (I love Shafie).

Shafie had been with Umno for more than two decades before quitting in 2016 to form Parti Warisan Sabah, after a fallout with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, despite his love for Shafie, Rakman remains undecided on who he would vote for in the forthcoming general election.

"There are five of us at home, but we still don't know who to vote for.

"I can't promise whether I will vote for him (Shafie) or for BN. We can say we love our kids and tomorrow we might beat them and we can say we love our wives - and the next day we would quarrel with them.

"Our minds can change like that," shrugged the 52-year-old when met at his kitchenware shop in the town centre, just as he was about to close shop for the day.

Having lived in Semporna all her life, 26-year-old Lina Sabaani said she has seen how Shafie had always made the constituency a priority.

"I think I will vote for him," said the first-time voter.

Lina (photo), who holds a diploma in law, hoped there were more job opportunities for youths in Semporna.

"Because there aren't many job opportunities, I'm forced to work as a sales assistant at a local market," said Lina who said that she prefers to stay in Semporna as it is her home.

Nurul Fadillah Ellyana is only 16 and was enjoying her ice cream when she admitted that she does not really make it a priority to know about politics. But the teenager is another local who has witnessed Shafie's frequent visits to the constituency.

"He has visited my village and during the fasting month he would spend time with the locals and give aid.

"The people here truly love him. He's someone who makes it a point to know about the rakyat's welfare and he mingles well with the people," Nurul Fadillah (photo).

And it is not just the bumiputeras who are fond of the Bantu leader.

'We think he’s nice'

Chong Mok Ho, 37, also attested to what she believes is Shafie's concern for his constituents.

"He loves the people and he always helps us when we are in need.

"He's a really good leader and he doesn't care about race. He always mingles with the Chinese. We think he's nice," Chong (photo) said.

Army veteran Abdul Jais Ahmad, 50, was walking alone in the town centre as Malaysiakini approached him. Flashing a bright smile, Abdul Jais did not look like a typical former military man.

While it is the norm for army personnel to align themselves with the ruling party, Abdul Jais said he was willing to give Warisan a chance, and went on to cite Shafie's contributions to the constituency.

"Shafie contributed a lot for the people of Semporna. We don't only have a local community college, we also have a Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) and much more.

"And even after he joined Warisan, he still came to visit," said Abdul Jais (photo).

The MRSM and local community college are just some of the public facilities that Semporna hosts.

The constituency is home to more than 133,000 people - five times smaller than the population of Selangor’s administrative capital Shah Alam.

But Semporna boasts its own hospital, a court building, a library, a small stadium and the local council building, all a stone throw's away from the heart of the town.

Much of the development in Semporna has come under the watch of Shafie, who has been the constituency's MP since 1995.

But despite it being a stronghold that he has held for five consecutive terms, he has yet to confirm whether he will defend the seat or otherwise.

Shafie had always won the seat with comfortable majorities. He secured a 20,905-vote majority in the last general election.

'Shafie always fulfilled requests'

But even if he abandons the seat, voters such as plantation worker Azlan Hamid said they would still vote for Shafie's party.

"We still believe in him, he's our idol," Azlan (photo) said.

The 48-year-old noted that Shafie always fulfilled requests made by the locals, Housing Project for the Hardcore Poor (PPRT) homes among them.

Local Warisan leader Abdul Razak Jimlan, who heads the party's Lihak-Lihak polling district, claimed that many villages in Semporna have also voiced support for Warisan in the forthcoming general election, whether Shafie contests or not.

"We asked the villagers about this. Alhamdulillah, they said, they will still vote for us even if Shafie is not the candidate."

Abdul Razak further claimed that house to house visits conducted by Warisan have shown support for the party to be strong.

"Altogether, there are 33 voting centres in Semporna. I went to the villages and asked every individual and they said there is no need for us to campaign.

"They said with the formation of Warisan, led by Shafie, they will give their support to us."

He is also thankful for the response thus far as he has yet to get any negative response from the people.

"No one has hurled insults at us. When we have programmes in villages, we would have more people coming, surpassing our targets."

These are among reasons why Abdul Razak set a 95 percent chance of Warisan winning Semporna.

"Umno can dream about getting the majority in Semporna. After Shafie left Umno, Umno has been like a baby chick that has lost its mother," he told Malaysiakini.

Sabah Umno was indeed left paralysed after Shafie decided to quit Umno following his suspension from the party.

But while many may sing praises when it comes to Shafie and Warisan on the mainland, those living on remote islands are less than impressed.

Village development committee (JKK) chief of Kampung Bum Bum in Bum Bum Island, Datu Johor Datu Bakkiar (photo), admitted that Shafie had done much during his time as minister.

"But as a member of the JKK, I support BN."

Pointing out how Shafie was no longer a minister, Datu Johor said assistance, therefore, would be limited.

"He could only provide so much for us as he's no longer with BN," he said.

Retiree Mahiddin Hatib Kuddin, 61, is another loyal BN supporter and did not mince his words when speaking about Shafie.

Unlike Semporna voters based in the town area, Mahiddin, when met at his home in the village said Shafie has "never contributed anything".

"He once promised that before he dies, a bridge from Bum Bum Island to the Semporna mainland will be built.

"Maybe he has died because the bridge has yet to be built," said Mahiddin, with sarcasm in his voice.

Fellow BN supporter Bakari Junjoma, 65, is also waiting for the bridge to Semporna.

The retired taxi driver believed that the delay in building the bridge is a result of rivalry between Shafie and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.

"The bridge was promised since the time of (former prime minister) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi)," Bakari recalled.

Not convinced Warisan can do better

Besides the bridge, Mahiddin is simply not convinced that Warisan can do better than BN.

He recounted a visit by several Warisan members to his village a few weeks ago, during which he was told by one of them that they want to "change" Sabah.

"But I asked them how would they change Sabah if we can't change Mount Kinabalu.

"I don't know how else Sabah would change, as only BN can do so."

However, Mahiddin admitted that assistance given thus far by BN has not been sufficient.

"From hundreds of fishermen, maybe five or six will get assistance in terms of boats, fishnets and other relevant equipment."

Despite this, Mahiddin said, he was still thankful to the ruling government.

"Like water tanks, even though we got them late, we still received them.

"We are thankful to the government. Apart from water tanks, we have roads and electricity," he added.

Bakari said the people would only support Shafie if he was back in government.

"I'm with the government. If he (Shafie) is with the government then we will support him.

Shafie was the first Sabahan to become Umno vice-president following the party's 2013 election.

However, he was removed in the cabinet reshuffle two years later and he quit Umno last year.

Helming the rural and regional ministry from 2009 to 2015, Shafie is currently probed by the MACC, which is investigating several companies that were awarded projects for supply of water, electricity and roads to help people in rural Sabah.

Shafie has insisted that he had no involvement in the scandal.

Part 1: For many Sabahans, it’s all about putting food on the table

Part 2: Warisan rides on 'Sabahans for Sabah' concept

Part 3: Can Warisan wrest Sabah from BN?