Sabah for Sabahans - that is incumbent chief minister Mohd Shafie Apdal's consistent message while out on the hustings since the start of the election campaign period on Sept 12.

"Who decides who governs Sabah? Not Kuala Lumpur. Those who will decide who governs Sabah are the people of Sabah," is Shafie's oft-repeated rallying cry on the ceramah stage, accented, and always followed by a cacophony of applause.

Soft-spoken and small-statured, once he is armed with a microphone and rostrum, Shafie makes it clear that he is one of the main contenders in this election...