Batu Sapi may well be an early indicator of Sabah's political future, being the first real test pitting the ruling BN coalition lead by Umno and the fractured but potentially dangerous opposition.
Politicos are so far keeping quiet, in respect for Batu Sapi MP Edmund Chong Ket Wah who died in a motorcycling accident this morning.
But it won't be too long before the wheeling and dealing begins and strategies are laid out either to defend, or to wrest away, the seat.
Politicos are so far keeping quiet, in respect for Batu Sapi MP Edmund Chong Ket Wah who died in a motorcycling accident this morning.
But it won't be too long before the wheeling and dealing begins and strategies are laid out either to defend, or to wrest away, the seat.
Chong had held the seat, located in Sabah's east coast district of Sandakan, for two terms, having won uncontested in 2004 before beating independent candidate Chung Kwong Wing by a nearly 4,000 vote-majority in 2008.
By virtue of his being Parti Bersatu Sabah treasurer-general, it is expected that priority will go to PBS to choose who will replace the 54-year-old consultant engineer.
What will be interesting, however, is not who will stand to defend the seat, but rather who will contest - and under whose banner - against the ruling coalition.
Despite the sizeable opposition presence in Sabah, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is expected to be the obvious choice to go up against the BN, which they left about half a year later after the 2008 general elections.
Compared to the other opposition parties such as PKR and DAP that have set up shop in the state, SAPP, lead by former chief minister Yong Teck Lee, is seen as the only credible opposition front that is homegrown, giving it an edge over their peers in the opposition.
With Yong's constant pitch that his party will take over the state government in the next general elections, it would only be natural for SAPP to contest Batu Sapi not just to test the waters, but to prove they are a serious presence.
With Yong's constant pitch that his party will take over the state government in the next general elections, it would only be natural for SAPP to contest Batu Sapi not just to test the waters, but to prove they are a serious presence.
A victory could prove devastating for BN, particularly for Umno and current Chief Minister Musa Aman, himself is a local Sandakan, as it could be gauged as a drop in his popularity.
Maybe DAP?
Taking over the state government, however, will not require a parliamentary seat, leaving open the possibility that Yong and his party may not be too keen on expending more manpower to deal with federal matters when they will need as many hands on deck to tackle Sabah's issues.
SAPP already has two parliamentarians at the moment, Sepanggar MP Eric Majimbun and Tawau MP Chua Soon Bui, and with less resources available to them in the federal capital, it may make more sense to work with a 'partner' with national clout.
The long held perception is that SAPP and DAP have come to some sort of accord, with persistent rumours that Yong and his team were instrumental in DAP's first ever victory in Sabah when Hiew King Chew took the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat in 2008.
If true, then it would not be too far-fetched for SAPP to instead take a back seat and use its influence at the grassroots to help campaign for a greater DAP representation in Sabah and parliament.
All this remains speculation, but one thing is for sure - Batu Sapi will be a contest worth watching.
Taking over the state government, however, will not require a parliamentary seat, leaving open the possibility that Yong and his party may not be too keen on expending more manpower to deal with federal matters when they will need as many hands on deck to tackle Sabah's issues.
SAPP already has two parliamentarians at the moment, Sepanggar MP Eric Majimbun and Tawau MP Chua Soon Bui, and with less resources available to them in the federal capital, it may make more sense to work with a 'partner' with national clout.
The long held perception is that SAPP and DAP have come to some sort of accord, with persistent rumours that Yong and his team were instrumental in DAP's first ever victory in Sabah when Hiew King Chew took the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat in 2008.
If true, then it would not be too far-fetched for SAPP to instead take a back seat and use its influence at the grassroots to help campaign for a greater DAP representation in Sabah and parliament.
All this remains speculation, but one thing is for sure - Batu Sapi will be a contest worth watching.
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