Warisan again fields ex-state lawmaker in Kimanis poll

• UPDATED 9.50PM | Added additional comments for Shafie on the choice of by-election candidate.

KIMANIS POLLS | Warisan today announced former Bongawan state assemblyperson Karim Bujang as the candidate for the Kimanis parliamentary seat by-election on Jan 18.

This is the second time Warisan is fielding Karim in Kimanis since the 2018 general elections.

In announcing the candidate, Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal said there is no reason for Warisan to lose the battle to Umno.

This is because both state seats under Kimanis are held by Warisan and Bersatu.

He said Tanjung Piai, which witnessed a landslide win for BN, and the by-election in Kimanis are not the same.

"Tanjung Piai cannot determine (the election result) in Kimanis. This is not Tanjung Piai, this is not the Peninsular (Malaysia), this is Sabah.

"They have different name, I am quite sure the result will be different too," he said. 

Shafie said he had informed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad about the choice of candidate this morning and the latter said it is up to the people to decide who they want for the Kimanis seat.

It was previously reported that Bersatu and even several leaders in Warisan eyed to contest in the seat.

However, Shafie said the candidate has to be Karim as he was the one who initiated the election petition against BN's Anifah Aman.

Speaking with media later, Shafie pointed out he is aware of the need to rejuvenate the division leadership.

He, however, said at this moment Warisan needs to field a Brunei candidate in this Brunei-majority parliamentary seat.

Shafie said Mahathir himself had pledged that Pakatan Harapan will support Warisan candidate in the by-election. 

Karim (above), 67, won the Bongawan state seat in the 2000s under BN's ticket. He then left Umno to join Warisan and was fielded as a candidate for Kimanis during GE14.

BN's Anifah Aman only won Kimanis in 2018 with a slim 156-majority vote.

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