KOTA KINABALU, Feb 26 — Sabah’s Liberal Democratic Party is set to propose at least one new candidate for the 14th general election, in a bid to regain the Sandakan parliamentary seat lost by its former president.

Although president Datuk Seri Teo Chee Kang remained tight-lipped about its candidates, the party is certain to field a new face to replace his ousted predecessor who recently declared support for fledgling opposition party Warisan.

"Definitely there will be a new face or new faces. But this is still not the time to talk about it openly yet. The time will come,” he said.

The Chinese-based Barisan Nasional component party has faced a bitter leadership tussle post-elections and is looking to face coming national polls with a strong lineup and renewed loyalty from its incumbent elected representatives.

LDP won three out of four state seats it previously contested — Tanjong Kapor, Merotai and Karamunting — but lost Likas as well as its sole chance at a federal constituency.

When asked what he thought about past president Datuk Liew Vui Keong’s about-turn in supporting Warisan, Teo said it was Liew’s right to do so.

However, he also pointed out that Liew has not officially submitted a resignation letter to the party.

In 2014, after a rancorous tussle for the party’s top spot that included intervention from the Registrar of Societies and a dismissed application with the Court of Appeal, Liew was suspended from the party for three years.

"The suspension has automatically lapsed, so his position as a member of the party resumes as normal,” said Teo.

Teo was nonplussed about speculation that Liew would contest against LDP following their spat.

"If there is a political party who is willing to nominate him then so be it,” he said.

On his replacement for the Sandakan seat, party sources said vice president Lim Ming Hoo is most favored to wrestle the seat back while another vice president, Chin Shu Ying, will most likely contest in the Likas state seat again, which he lost to former DAP rep Junz Wong by a 5,000 vote majority.

Incumbents Teo is also expected to stay on in Tanjong Kapor, likewise Datuk Pang Yuk Ming who holds the Merotai Muslim-bumiputera seat.

Charles O. Pang holds the Karamunting seat, but it remains unclear if he will be contesting in the coming elections.

"There is still a lot of lobbying and discussion, but nothing is certain yet. Some want fresh faces while others say the status quo works,” said a party source.