The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has announced its six candidates for the coming Sabah state election, with party president Yong Teck Lee opting not to throw his hat in the ring yet again.
The senior-most SAPP leaders taking part in the state polls are its two deputy presidents – Edward Dagul and Japiril Suhaimi.
SAPP secretary-general Richard Yong said the party’s Supreme Council unanimously approved the candidates during a meeting today, Bernama reported.
He also said it would be the first time that three of the candidates – Yong Yit Jee, Henley Liew and Yvonne Yong – are taking part in an election.
Yit Jee and Yvonne are Teck Lee’s children and head SAPP’s youth and young women’s wings, respectively.
SAPP’s full list of candidates are:
- Yong Yit Jee – Likas
- Gee Tien Siong – Luyang
- Edward Dagul – Limbahau
- Japiril Suhaimi – Kundasang
- Henley Liew – Tanjong Papat
- Yvonne Yong – Segama
Teck Lee, who served as chief minister from 1996 to 1998, was an appointed assemblyman in the 16th Sabah state assembly, which was dissolved on Oct 6 to make way for the election.
He was the assemblyman for Likas from 1985 to 2013, when he lost the Chinese-majority seat to DAP. Since then, the seat had consistently been defended by DAP.
He has not taken part in an election since his 2013 defeat, but remains SAPP’s president.
Teck Lee led SAPP out of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition last month alongside Jeffrey Kitingan’s Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).
Sabahans go to the polls on Nov 29 while nominations will be held on Nov 15.
