DAP had held on to the seat for three terms from 1978 through its former treasurer, Fung Ket Wing. The seat then fell to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) for a single term before being taken by Barisan Nasional (BN) in the following election.
But despite Wong’s victory in 2013, five years later the national opposition party faces the risk of losing the seat following continuous onslaught by BN’s well-oiled election machinery.
BN has consistently pointed out how ineffective an opposition MP is when it comes to providing development to a demanding urban population.
Tanjung Papat state assemblyman Raymond Tan, whose area comes under the Sandakan parliamentary constituency, believes urban voters are not foolish enough to think that DAP will bring change after GE14.
“Sandakan Chinese are not stupid. Five years ago, Stephen Wong told the people to give him a chance to make a change.
“This is five years later. Everybody has a report card. The only thing he is good at is coming up with press statements.
“The state government can address the needs of the people. DAP cannot form the government in Sabah,” he said.
Wong, however, believes that the people are happy with his performance as he has been freely voicing their concerns, something he would not be able to do if he was in the government.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the coming election would pose a real challenge to his party in its attempt to wrest more parliamentary seats to replace BN as the federal government.
“I still think BN will be our major opponent in the election. It is a seat reserved for the local party, LDP, and they will do everything to take back the seat.”
Although LDP deputy president Chin Su Phin is the current Sandakan BN coordinator and more influential in the party, it is becoming more evident that the party will look towards its vice-president, Lim Ming Hoo, to lead the charge against DAP.
Chin said Lim deserved to be fielded as the candidate because he had always gone to the ground to meet the people.
“I predict he will be fielded for the Sandakan seat in the coming election because he is committed and always focused on the party’s activities.
“His friendly attitude and genuine concern for the people’s problems, especially in Sandakan, means he is easily approachable by anybody.”
Chin said the various projects carried out in Sandakan were also done through BN’s office while the MP could only look on as the funds for the constituency do not go through him.
There are also signs that even the Chinese community, the backbone of DAP’s support in the constituency, may be turning its back on the opposition.
During a recent open house held in an affluent housing estate, residents grumbled about bad business and openly expressed their dissatisfaction with Wong, vowing to vote for BN in the coming election.
Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) has also been making inroads in Sandakan, holding events to attract the Chinese community who, perhaps out of curiosity or even genuine support, have come out in droves to hear what the party leaders have to say.
The party’s influence is gaining traction, especially among the non-Chinese who form 44% of the voters.
Liew, whom Wong defeated in the previous election, has been appointed Warisan’s permanent chairman.
Liew’s defeat in 2013 not only spelt the end of his term as MP of the area known as Little Hong Kong, but also laid the ground for his eventual departure from the party, which he had inherited from prominent Chinese state leader and former chief minister Chong Kah Kiat.
It was not a graceful exit either, as Liew was shown the door following accusations of power abuse in a desperate attempt to consolidate his position as the party’s president in 2014.
It is therefore no surprise that the former deputy federal minister is eager to get back to politics and revive his career.
Believing he still has strong influence in Sandakan, the lawyer-turned-politician has offered himself as a potential candidate in Sandakan for Warisan.
He says his past roles as political party president, deputy minister and an MP has provided him with the necessary experience to be a candidate in the election.
“I think I want to continue serving the people in that capacity. That is very important. It can be anywhere, if not Sandakan, wherever my political destiny takes me,” Liew said.
While Liew believes he still has influence in Sandakan, some quarters say this is wishful thinking.
“In Sandakan, people do not necessarily vote for the party. They vote for the candidate.
“So even if Warisan is favoured by the voters, if the candidate is not the right person, they will vote for another,” said an Umno man who requested anonymity.
For this reason, he said, BN must choose the right person for the seat. So far, Lim, who has been working hard in the constituency these past five years, seems to be a good bet for the coalition in its efforts to recapture Sandakan.
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