KOTA KINABALU, Nov 12 – The United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) will be represented by its president, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, and his wife Puan Sri Diana Diego in the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election.
Pandikar will contest the Pintasan seat, while Diana has been named as the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidate for Sekong.
They are among the 55 candidates fielded by GRS for the election.
In a notable move, GRS opted not to re-nominate incumbent Pintasan assemblyman Datuk Fairuz Renddan, instead selecting Pandikar to defend the seat under the coalition’s banner.
During the announcement in Pintasan today, a few boos were heard from sections of the crowd, mainly GRS members.
When met by reporters later, Pandikar brushed aside doubts about his political comeback, asserting that he has remained active in politics and is confident of winning Pintasan under GRS.
“I never left politics. I have been in politics all along. I am going to win… definitely. I must deliver seats to the GRS,” he said.
He appeared unfazed by the lukewarm reactions at the announcement, noting that many in attendance were not voters from his constituency.
“But those people there, they are not voters in my constituency. They came from different places,” he said when asked to comment on the booing that had come from the floor.
Asked again about his confidence level, Pandikar repeated with a smile: “My comment? I am going to win. You want to bet with me?
Pandikar cited his strong grassroots support in Pintasan, recalling his performance in the 2020 state election where he lost narrowly by just 84 votes despite a challenging contest against both PN and BN candidates.
“In 2020, I contested, and I was caught between PN and BN. I garnered 2,660 votes and only lost by 84. I am sure I will deliver this time round,” he said.
Acknowledging the risks of sabotage or boycott, Pandikar said such challenges are part of any election.
“In every election, there’s sabotage. It is up to the candidates. GRS will face competition from other parties, but each party must ensure their own victory. I must make sure I win.
“If you ask me if I am going to win, of course I’m going to win. Why should I contest if I know I am going to lose, right?”
On his wife’s candidacy, he said GRS carefully selected candidates based on their winning potential.
“You see, GRS selected candidates who have the chance of winning. All were screened, not picked up from here and there. All of them were selected because we want to win. It is our job. We have done our work,” he stressed.
Pandikar’s candidacy marks a significant comeback for Usno, one of Sabah’s oldest political parties, as it seeks to re-establish its relevance within the GRS coalition in this pivotal election.
