Musa Aman breaks nine-year CM jinx

KOTA KINABALU: After breaking Sabah's infamous nine-year jinx that has haunted past chief ministers, state Umno chief Datuk Musa Aman (pix) is set to lead the Barisan Nasional for a record third term.

Musa, who in March last year broke the jinx that has seen no chief minister serving more then nine years, will defend his Sungai Sibuga state seat as Sabah Barisan takes on a resurgent but fractious opposition.

Musa said that he was confident that the Barisan will do well and equal its last election performance of winning 59 of the 60 state and 24 of the 25 parliamentary seats.

“God willing, we can do it again,” he told reporters as he unveiled the list of Sabah Umno candidates.

Musa named former chief minister and current state Speaker Datuk Mohd Salleh Tun Said for his former Usukan state seat.

Salleh was among the six new faces from Sabah Umno's 32 seats.

The others included Datuk Yusoff Apdal, the younger brother of Umno vice-president Datuk Shafie Apdal, who will contest the Lahad Datu state seat while its incumbent Datuk Nasrun Datu Mansur will contest the Silam parliamentary seat.

Five term assemblyman Datuk Karim Bujang was dropped from his Bongawan seat and was replaced by the Kimanis division's youth chief Mohammad Alamin as Sabah Umno maintained most its incumbents.

State minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun will contest the Beaufort parliamentary seat that was held by Datuk Lajim Ukin who left the party.

All Sabah Umno's federal ministers - Datuk Anifah Aman (Kimanis) and Shafie (Semporna) and Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin (Papar) - have been retained with Umno fielding Datuk Jumaat Idris for the Sepanggar parliamentary seat.

Musa said the decision on the Tenom seat currently held by Raime Unggi will be made by Wednesday.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who announced his party's list simultaneously at the party headquarters in Penampang, said that super principal Datuk Mary Yap will be contesting the Tawau parliamentary seat.

Pairin, who is defending his Keningau parliamentary and Tambunan state seats, also named businessman Fung Len Fui for the Sri Tanjung state seat and lawyer Chin Teck Ming for the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat.

The three seats are now held by the opposition.

No other changes were made to his remaining two MPs and 11 assemblymen as other Sabah Barisan parties announced their line up with Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and Sabah Gerakan retaining their incumbents.

Upko led by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok will defend his Penampang parliamentary seat while secretary general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau will stand in Tuaran.

Upko, which has been allocated four parliamentary seats and six state seats is fielding newcomers in the Kuala Penyu (Limus Jury) and Bingkor (Keneddy Jie John) state seats while retaining the other incumbents.

Liberal Democratic Party led by Datuk V.K.Liew, who retains Sandakan parliamentary seat, is fielding Charles Pang for the Karamunting state seat and putting youth leader Chin Su Yin in Likas.

Sabah MCA chairman Datuk Edward Khoo will defend his Kapayan state seat and the party has been allocated a second state seat Luyang which will be contested by Sabah MCA Wanita chief Datuk Agnes Shim.

PBRS will see no changes with its president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup staying put in the Pensiangan parliamentary seat and party deputy Datuk Alfred Ellron Angin staying on in the Sook state seat.

Sabah Gerakan, which will be contesting for the first time under a Barisan ticket in Sabah, will retain the state seats Tanjong Papat (Datuk Raymond Tan) and Elopura (Au Kam Wah) who both did not follow SAPP when it left the coalition in Sept 2008.