KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has showcased a true festival of democracy, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“This is the festival of democracy in Sabah. Only Sabah has it.
“However, I am concerned that this festival of democracy could turn into a festival of ‘demo-crazy’ given the large number of parties contesting — but it’s alright. The more, the merrier,” he said during a meeting with around 500 members of the Indian community at a local restaurant here.
For the 17th Sabah General Election, Zahid said that contests ranged from four-cornered up to 14-cornered across the 73 state seats, with a total of 596 candidates.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman said the coalition was fielding 45 candidates, 80 per cent of whom were newcomers.
“This means BN in Sabah has new faces, a renewed spirit, and is presenting a fresh agenda for the state.”
Zahid added that, based on his assessment, no single party is expected to dominate the government following Saturday’s polls.
“My prediction is that Sabah will once again be led by a coalition government. Political stability must be prioritised.
“We want our three key issues — infrastructure, electricity supply and water supply — to be addressed. These must be resolved because Sabahans deserve good roads, clean water and reliable electricity so they can live in peace.
“In addition, education must also be prioritised, particularly Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
