In the first two days, most of the 447 candidates from 15 parties, especially party leaders, focused on their own constituencies.
They included Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin, who made his rounds in Lamag where he is contesting. The seat is part of the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency, where he is the MP.
Similarly, Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal, Sabah PPBM chief Hajiji Noor, PBS deputy president Radin Malleh and STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan, concentrated their campaigns in Senallang, Sulaman, Melalap and Tambunan respectively.
However, of late Hajiji, Shafie, Bung Moktar, Malleh, Kitingan and several other party leaders have been travelling to various parts of the state to help out their party candidates.
Federal leaders have also descended on the state, including PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin and BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who were helping in the campaign of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, which comprises BN, Perikatan Nasional and PBS.
DAP top guns like secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Gobind Singh Deo and Lim Kit Siang, and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim were also on the ground conducting ceramah and meet-the-voter sessions for candidates from Warisan, Upko and PKR.
Among the day’s highlights was former chief minister Musa Aman speaking at a campaign for the first time, in support of Joniston Bangkuai of PBS, who is defending the Kiulu seat in a six-cornered fight.
Musa made a surprise appearance at a PN function in Beaufort yesterday, then proceeded to Tamparuli and Tuaran to continue his campaign. “Watch out for this man (Musa). His presence might influence the election results,” said a local political observer.
Upko president Madius Tangau is among the five candidates challenging Joniston.
Although the battle for power is mainly between GRS and Warisan Plus, other parties like Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Usno, LDP, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah cannot be taken for granted as they have their own strategies and are contesting in many seats.
Only GRS, Warisan Plus and PCS are vying for all the 73 seats up for grabs while Usno has 47 candidates, LDP (46), Gagasan (28) and PPRS (23).
Among the hot seats are the 17 in which see GRS partners are clashing among themselves — Bengkoka, Telupid, Lumadan, Matunggong, Tandek, Kadamaian, Kapayan, Karamunting, Melalap, Sook, Bingkor, Moyog, Tulid, Paginatan, Liawan, Tambunan and Tanjung Aru.
Another keenly contested seat is Api-Api where Sabah PKR chairman Christina Liew is challenged by, among others LDP president Chin Su Phin, PBS deputy president Yee Moh Chai and PCS deputy president Pang Yuk Ming in a nine-cornered contest.
In Sulaman, Hajiji faces a stern test in a six-way fight, especially from his nephew Aliasgar Basri of Warisan.
The main issues being raised in the election campaign include ties between the state and federal governments, Sabah rights, state resources, basic amenities, illegal immigrants and oil royalty.
Only GRS, Usno and PCS have unveiled their manifestos so far.
The poster war has also gone full swing with party flags and banners lining the streets and taking up strategic spots in villages and towns.
The campaign is expected to further heat up in the second week before polling on Sept 26.
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