PKR election director Nurul Izzah Anwar today said Jamawi Jaafar’s experience would strengthen and accelerate progress in the state constituency of Melalap.
The PKR deputy president said the candidate for Melalap had an “excellent track record and a clear understanding of the real needs of Melalap residents”.
“If given the mandate, we are confident he can strengthen essential development from roads and water supply to educational facilities and youth economic opportunities,” the Daily Express reported her as saying today.
Nurul Izzah said voter support for Jamawi would ensure continuity in initiatives, including upgrading village amenities, expanding healthcare in remote areas and improving telecommunication and internet connectivity.
“Melalap has the potential to become a model for rural development with strong community support,” she said.
Nurul Izzah said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Pakatan Harapan (PH) partnership aims to maintain political stability while ensuring that state development plans are effectively implemented at the grassroots level.
“With political stability, rural development can accelerate, ensuring that Melalap enjoys progress on par with other regions,” she said.
Jamawi served as Kemabong assemblyman from 2018 to 2020, representing Umno. In the 2020 state election, Umno fielded him in Melalap where he lost to Peter Anthony by 1,719 votes.
In the general election two years later, he contested the Tenom parliamentary seat but lost to independent candidate Riduan Rubin by 1,108 votes. He then left Umno to join Gagasan Rakyat.
GRS chairman Hajiji Noor later said he had no gripes about PKR’s decision to field Jamawi in the Nov 29 state election, adding that it was his democratic right to join other parties and contest the election.
He also said GRS would give Jamawi its backing since it had an electoral pact with PH.
