KOTA KINABALU: DAP candidate Vivian Wong Shir Yee’s victory in the Sandakan parliamentary by-election proves that the people want the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government and the Warisan party-led State Government to continue ruling, said Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) Sabah Co-ordinator Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said.
He said BERSATU Sabah also thankful them for being entrusted by the Sandakan Parliamentary Election Machinery to assist in campaigning at two District Voting Centres (PDMs) in the by election.
“We are also proud of the PDM areas a majority of whom are Muslim Bumiputera, where former PH candidates lost, but this time was won by PH, such as Sim-Sim and Berhala Island.”
“This victory shows that UMNO’s influence have decreased since the coming of BERSATU to Sabah, including Sandakan”, he said in a statement today.
Hajiji who is also the Sulaman State Assemblyman an, said Vivian Wong did not only succeed in helping the PH Government to retain the Parliamentary seat in Sandakan but also garnered a huge majority of 11, 521 votes.
“On behalf of BERSATU Sabah, I congratulate DAP and Vivian Wong on the meaningful victory.
“This also showed that voters in Sandakan Parliamentary area want Vivian to continue the agenda and struggle by her late father, Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt
“This decision had been made by voters in the Sandakan Parliamentary area and as such it should be respected by all concerned,” Hajiji said.
Vivian Wong garnered 16,012 votes beating Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidate Datuk Linda Tsen Thau Lin (4,491 undi) in a five-cornered contest.
Three Independent candidates former founder of Parti Amanah Negara (AMANAH) Sabah, Hamzah Abdullah garnered 788 votes; former Administration officer of the Sandakan Parliament Service Centre Sulaiman Abdul Samat (126 votes) and businessman Chia Siew Yung (178 votes), and lost their deposit.
Vivian Wong successfully retained the seat that had been her late father Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt for the last two terms. He died of a heart attack on March 28 recently.
During the 14th General Election (GE14) Tien Fatt who was the Sabah DAP Chairman won with a majority of 10,098 votes, garnering an overall 19,094 votes against 8,996 votes garnered by his opponent Barisan Nasional (BN) LDP’s Datuk Lim Ming Hoo.-pr/BNN
