Development, infrastructure: Key ‘hunger’ of Kimanis voters
PUCHONG: Come Saturday, Kimanis voters will be electing a new MP after former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman failed to push for a stay in a Federal Court ruling which nullified his victory in the Kimanis parliamentary seat in the last general election.
More than 29,000 voters will decide whether it is Warisan/Pakatan Harapan or Umno/BN which will lead and reform Kimanis to become a well developed district in Kota Kinabalu.
Of course, this straight fight between both influential parties is not an ordinary by-election, as both have widespread support in Kimanis, which is famous for its unique Kampung Binsulok shrimp paste (belacan).
‘Development is still a pressing issue’
The grizzles of the rakyat in Kimanis is to enjoy good facilities and to have a good development in the town of Kimanis.
In this sense, many are split about Umno’s decades of rule in the state. While some claim that Umno had done a good job there, others say that Umno has failed Kimanis.
Even though some parts of Kimanis has been developed well in the Umno era, the rakyat still want more for the district.
So, what do the Kimanis voters want from their new MP?
For Mohd Nazllie Zainal, 28, he hopes that the new MP can replace the old shoplots for security reasons and build more of those to develop local economy.
He added that the new MP needs to upgrade the roads, especially in the villages, for people’s convenience.
“I don’t mind which party wins the election, but as the new MP, he must fulfill the rakyat’s desire in making sure Kimanis is developed. For me, I just hope that he can provide more public infrastructure for the rakyat.
“I also hope that he can develop locations seen as having great potential for tourism so that it can attract tourists to Kimanis, which can benefit local entrepreneurs,” he said to The Leaders Online, today.
In the same boat, Saddam Edris, 29, said as a Kimanis resident, he wants the new MP to focus more on infrastructure development to facilitate day-to-day businesses.
Apart from infrastructure development, Saddam, who works as a civil servant, hopes that the new MP can provide rakyat with financial assistance to boost existing eco-farming industry to increase income and create employment opportunities for Kimanis people.
“We also want public transport to be upgraded. We need modern trains to replace our old ones. Our roads badly need an upgrade as they are not in good condition.
“I understand that chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal wants to establish a district office in Kimanis. I strongly agree with this proposal as it will give us an avenue to voice out our complaints,” he said.
Md. Amirul Dusin, 31, said that the people were ‘hungry’ for development from their previous MP but got far less than what was expected.
“There are two main things that rakyat want from their new MP, which is development and an upgrade to existing facilities such as our village roads.
“We hope that the new MP can give us financial assistance, by raising the fishermen allowance and lower the price of goods,” he said.
Kimanis by-election this Saturday is described by the locals as a ‘friendly match’ between BN candidate Datuk Mohamad Alamin and Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) candidate Datuk Karim Bujang, as the duo are well known to be good friends for a long time.
Whatever the outcome of the by-election, the new MP will have to shoulder a heavy task of fulfilling the aspirations of Kimanis voters.
By Fifi Harteeny Marzuki
