By Mu Vitet
KOTA KINABALU: Kapayan Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Women’s Chief Rizawani Fiona Heng expressed confidence that DAP-Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Datuk Jannie Lasimbang has the edge after a week of campaigning.
“I am grateful that PH is working together with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which also maintains the identity of a Sabah-based party. We are working together because we are all Malaysians,” said Rizawani during a campaign at Funky Town food court.
Jannie, who is involved in a 13-cornered contest, is seeking to retain the Kapayan seat. Rizawani stressed the importance of highlighting the Sabahan identity while promoting national unity.
She noted that support from West Malaysian parties provides knowledge, strategy, and resources to help Sabah progress. She emphasised that the assistance is meant to support development, not to pressure local parties.
To attract young voters, Rizawani said Jannie, the only woman candidate in Kapayan, has a proven track record, including her work on a new pedestrian walkway at Kepayan Square, which has just begun.
“Young voters represent a significant number. We are confident we can engage them effectively,” she said, adding that Jannie had been an active community leader long before being elected.
Rizawani also noted that DAP has a long-standing presence in Sabah, having contested in the state since 1976, and remains committed to Sabah’s development.
On the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the 40 per cent revenue demand, she urged voters to understand the facts before forming opinions.
“These are important issues, but the public must know the full context before commenting or using them politically,” Rizawani said. Also present was Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
