SABAH POLLS | Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today joined the campaign trail for Puteri Umno's only candidate in Sabah, Hazulizah Mohd Dani in the Sekong seat.

The 35-year-old former Special Affairs Department (Jasa) officer under the BN administration is up against six other contenders for one of two state seats under Batu Sapi parliamentary seat, about 9km from Sandakan.

"I am very happy.

"I see the opportunity given to a young candidate, a former Jasa officer, and when I see her interactions with the residents, it makes me happy," Hishammuddin told reporters after Hazulizah's walkabout at Kampung Sundang Laut.

"It gives me confidence that God-willing, on the (voting) day, we will elect her as the new YB (assemblyperson)," added the Sembrong MP.

The village which falls under the Lupak Meluas voting district - one of six voting districts in Sekong - and comprises houses raised on stilts, connected by cement and wooden bridges.

The sea below the some of the houses is almost entirely black, filled with rubbish, sludge and other unidentifiable wastes.

Speaking to reporters, Hazulizah reiterated BN's commitment to assist the over 3,000 villagers, including addressing long-standing concerns on electricity supply and land status.

"BN is committed to think about basic facilities and infrastructures. If we are given the mandate, we will do our best to provide what is needed by the people in this area," said the Sabah Puteri Umno vice-chief.

Earlier, Hishammuddin addressed over 100 villagers gathered under a tent at an open field - a vast dusty area with several rows of large blue plastic containers to store clean water supply.

'No room for racial sentiments'

Hishammuddin said there should be no room for ethnic sentiments to be played up in Sabah.

"Issues of ethnic sentiments, by right there should be no room for them in Sabah.

"Ladies and gentlemen, standing before you, the grandson of Datuk Onn [...] standing before you is the son of Hussein Onn, Father of Unity.

"My presence here today, the grandson of Datuk Onn, son of Hussein Onn, it would be impossible for me to be here to create division or spark hate," he said in rallying the crowd, mostly of Bajau-Suluk descent, to support Hasulizah.

Hishammuddin also credited the presence of allies from MIC and Kimma, as well as Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad, as a sign of unity in BN

Hishammuddin's message today came as opponents of the Warisan Plus alliance racheted up their campaign to paint the incumbent Warisan government as a party sympathetic to undocumented migrants in towns including in Sandakan, a message that was previously only heard in the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut constituencies.

The message has racial and religious undertones as the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut community are mostly non-Muslim bumiputera while Warisan chief Mohd Shafie Apdal is a Muslim of Bajau descent.

The Sekong state seat was previously held by Warisan's Ariffin Asgali who has since quit the party to join Umno. This time, Warisan is fielding Alias Sani.

Other contenders for the seat include candidates from Sabah-based parties Usno, LDP, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS).

Campaigning began on Sept 12 and polling day is on Sept 26. A total of 73 seats are up for grabs in the state election.

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