Penampang could see clash between Warisan and Harapan

The Penampang parliamentary seat may witness a clash between the incumbent and Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking and Upko incoming president Ewon Benedick in the 15th general election (GE15).

This is as Upko, a component party of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, announced it would fully support Ewon (above, left), 39, as a candidate for the Penampang seat yesterday.

On the other hand, Warisan also announced that Darell (above, right), who won the semi-urban seat in the 2013 and 2018 general elections, will defend Penampang.

Upko deputy president Donald Peter Mojuntin said Ewon's candidacy received full support of the party leadership and its supporters, including those from the Penampang division.

Donald, who is also the party’s Penampang division chief said he was involved in the candidate selection for the seat.

“Upko believes the current political era needs fresh and more dynamic and capable leaders. We consider Ewon as a leader with great potential to bring the struggle of Sabah and its multiracial people to a higher level,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian in a statement.

“Moreover, at the age of 39, he is the youngest incoming Upko president and one of the youngest party presidents in Malaysia,” he said in a statement.

Ewon is also a state assemblyperson for Kadamaian, a state seat under Kota Belud.

Last month, Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau announced he will not defend his post and named Ewon as his successor.

Upko has since postponed its triennial delegates meeting, which was supposed to be held on Oct 15 and 16, so that the party can focus on GE15.

Warisan candidate

Darell’s candidadcy was announced by Warisan president Shafie Apdal in Sepanggar yesterday.

He was a minister of international trade and industry in the Harapan government under prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Darell first won Penampang in 2013 under a PKR ticket and later retained the seat in 2018 as a Warisan candidate.

GRS and BN, which pledged to work together in GE15, have yet to reveal their candidate for the constituency.

Penampang has 76,807 voters based on the gazetted electoral roll as of July.

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