WARISAN’S decision to not field two of its star candidates in the state seats has created a stir among the Kadazandusun, Murut, and Rungus (KDMR) communities, whose votes are crucial for the party to win in the west coast and interior divisions of Sabah.

Its deputy president, Darell Leiking, and committee member Terrence Siambun were not fielded for state seats, causing anxiety over the community’s representation in the Sabah government if Warisan was to win the state.

Leiking, the Penampang MP, was rumoured to contest in the Inanam state seat, but the seat was given to PKR, while Siambun, the Moyog incumbent, was dropped and replaced.

“Darell is seen as the most prominent KDM leader in Warisan, right? Why leave him out?” asked political analyst Lee Kuok Tiung from Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

Only a elected state seat representative can be given a cabinet post.

Chatter among the KDMR communities is that Shafie’s choice of candidates will favour only the Muslim Bumiputeras.

The only window for Leiking or Siambun to enter the state government is through Shafie invoking a provision in the constitution which would allow him to appoint six assemblymen who have not contested in the election.

“But I never heard Shafie talking about these possibilities. Of course some (in the KDMR communities) will be frustrated,” Lee said.

Leiking said the party was aware of the rumours and said something was being planned to address the concerns. – April 29, 2018.