Ronald Kiandee sole 'PN' candidate in Sabah

GE15 | In Sabah, there will only be one clash between Umno and Bersatu - in Beluran.

Unlike in other parts of Malaysia, the Sabah chapters of Umno and Bersatu are part of an electoral pact.

Their complicated relationship comes under the BN-Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) electoral pact which was supposed to see BN fielding 12 candidates and GRS 13.

Umno’s Benedict Asmat was supposed to be the candidate for the pact. This meant that incumbent Ronald Kiandee - who had already represented Beluran for five terms - had to sit out.

However, Kiandee filed his nomination papers today and chose to use the Perikatan Nasional (PN) logo on the ballot slip.

Unlike his choice of logo, five of his Bersatu colleagues will be using the GRS logo instead.

According to Bernama, Kiandee explained that his candidacy had nothing to do with the BN-GRS pact, which he said only exists at the state level.

“I am contesting on the PN ticket, which is the best platform to lift the aspirations of Beluran’s constituents at the national level,” he told reporters at the Beluran Multipurpose Hall today.

Kiandee has been the MP for Beluran for over two decades.

The contenders for the Beluran parliamentary seat are:

1. Benedict Asmat (BN)

2. Rowiena Rasid (Warisan)

3. Hausing Samsudin @ Sudin (Pejuang)

4. Ronald Kiandee (PN)

5. Felix Joseph Saang (Harapan)

Ronald Kiandee didn't make the cut

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Nomination ends - multi-cornered fights, candidates going rogue

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