KOTA KINABALU, April 19 ― With politics running in the blood of Sabahans, several of them are now following in their parents’ footsteps in the upcoming election.
Here are the profiles of five second-generation politicians from both sides of the political divide who are likely to emerge as new candidates in the 14th general election.
1. Ceasar Mandela Malakun (BN-UPKO)
In the heartland of the Kadazandusun, Ceasar Mandela Malakun, the son of former Moyog state assemblyman Datuk Seri Clarence Bongkos Malakun, is expected to contest the Penampang parliamentary constituency.
The younger Malakun has a lot to live up to as his father from PBS (then an opposition party) was known for taking down then Barisan Nasional (BN) Chief Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok in Moyog in the 1999 state elections by 4,388 votes, causing the biggest upset at the time.
It is perhaps an ironic twist that Mandela, new to UPKO and politics in general, now has to unseat incumbent Darell Leiking, who is also a “giant killer” in his own right, having defeated Dompok in the Penampang seat last election by 10,216 votes.
Mandela, when speaking to Malay Mail recently, said he was aware of the “uphill” task ahead but said he was realistic about his chances, due the shift in sentiment from native Sabahans who feel local native parties do not stand up to their “Malayan” counterparts.
Being relatively new to the scene, the 27-year-old said his experience and understanding of the business industry and government policies were his strengths, and also the fact that he is on “the winning team”.
“My father wasn’t exactly encouraging of me entering politics. Maybe it was because he had to sacrifice a lot of family time for his political career when we were were growing up. I experienced firsthand how much he had to give up,” he said.
Mandela said his motivation for going into politics now is altruistic.
“I feel that I carry the hopes of my youth peers who think that it is unusual these days to have someone my age represent them. I do not want to disappoint them,” he said.
However, a variable factor for his success is whether voters are still behind Leiking. The latter had contested as PKR vice president in 2013 but is now deputy president of Parti Warisan Sabah, a fledgling party which is helmed by former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
Shafie himself will, probably for the first time, face some resistance in his hometown of Semporna, where he reigns supreme despite leaving the ruling coalition in 2016.
2. Ahmad Marzuki Nasir (BN-Umno)
His opponent is likely to be one of his own family members, and rumour is that Ahmad Marzuki Nasir, son of Senallang assemblyman Datuk Nasir Sakaran, will take on Shafie or another uncle – Sulabayan assemblyman Datuk Jaujan Sambakong. Nasir and Shafie are cousins.
Ahmad Marzuki, 38, is currently Semporna Umno youth chief, taking over after his predecessor Datuk Azis Jamman left to join Shafie’s party.
He is in fact the third generation in the family to enter politics following his grandfather, Tun Sakaran Dandai, a former chief minister in 1994 and former head of state.
It is unclear whether Marzuki will stand in the Semporna Parliamentary seat, or the state seat of Senallang or Sulabayan, allowing Nasir to stand for the Parliamentary seat instead, but what is sure is that all eyes will be on Warisan to see if they have the people’s support as touted.
3. Arthur Kurup (BN-PBRS)
In the interior district of Pensiangan, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) had elected Tan Sri Joseph Kurup’s eldest son Arthur as deputy president at their party congress in 2015, pushing his predecessor Datuk Ellron Alfred Angian out.
All eyes are on the young Kurup, 35, to take over the Sook state seat from Angian as well. The law graduate has been campaigning hard in the interior areas of Keningau, Nabawan and Pensiangan of late.
The elder Kurup is expected to stay on to contest the Pensiangan seat.
4. Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas (Warisan)
In Kiulu district, known for the picturesque white water rafting activities, a young, mixed-race woman with a British accent and near perfect Dusun language skills has been making her presence felt.
Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas is not a stranger to the natives by any means. She made the district proud by being crowned Unduk Ngadau, a native beauty queen in 2007 and has since made some progress as a singer before joining politics as Warisan’s Wirawati ambassador.
The 29-year-old was largely touted to be the party’s candidate for Kiulu to take on incumbent Datuk Joniston Bangkuai but talk has since moved back to fielding former PKR candidate Rhodes Panilau who lost by the narrowest of margins in the 2013 elections. Panilau is now with Warisan as well.
Henley Rampas’ mom is Sulah Rampas, a former RTM radio announcer who resigned to join now defunct party AKAR to contest in Kiulu. Her uncle, Datuk Louis Rampas was a three term assemblyman for Kiulu.
5. Dr Pamela Yong (BN-MCA)
Another female second-generation politician is Dr Pamela Yong, the second daughter of MCA Sabah women chief and former senator Datuk Agnes Shim. Shim herself is a contender for the seat, but sources say Dr Yong is the favoured candidate due to her youth and professional background.
The 42-year-old Dr Yong, an orthodontist and Kota Kinabalu MCA Women chief, has been following her mother’s footsteps and getting involved in politics in recent years but is hesitant about taking on the candidacy due to her busy work and personal schedule.
“I have heard rumours about the possibility of being chosen to stand in Luyang. And yes of course I am honoured and grateful for the show of confidence by the leadership in me.
“However, my inner voice tells me that I am rather unprepared this time for such an enormous responsibility. By all accounts, running for an election and stepping up as the ‘wakil rakyat’ is not only challenging but requires one to devote total efforts, attention and commitment to the cause, and certainly not one who is still nursing a baby and have three other very young children under her care while running a specialist dental practice,” she said.
The other contender for the seat is former DAP rep and incumbent Hiew King Cheu.
6. Yamani Hafez Musa (BN-Umno)
Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman’s son Yamani Hafez is expected to be fielded in either the Lumadan or Sindumin state seat in Sipitang, where he is Umno Youth division chief but the party has been very tight-lipped about their list of candidates.
The 41-year old has been active as Sabah BN Youth chief and is vocal about fielding new faces for GE14.
7. Noraini Abdul Ghapur (BN-Umno)
Another potential new face is Kalabakan Umno Wanita vice-chief Noraini Abdul Ghapur, who could take over her father, incumbent Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh’s seat.
The speculation arised due to a controversy with the Kalabakan assemblyman last election, when Ghapur had to defend a local newspaper report claiming that he did not offer to drop out if his daughter was fielded as a candidate.
8. Jannie Lasimbang (DAP)
Jannie Lasimbang, 55, is the younger sister of former Moyog assemblyman Datuk Philip Lasimbang, who will be contesting the Kapayan state seat, albeit on a different political divide.
Jannie said her brother has been very supportive of her decision, and has even helped her in her campaigning despite her choosing to be on the Opposition’s side.
“Family comes first after all,” she said.
9. Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (BN-Umno)
In Apas, Tawau, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan will likely be standing in for his late brother Tawfiq, who passed away in March from cancer.
Nizam is Tawau Umno’s vice chief as well as Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister.
