Jufazli Shi Ahmad, 33, a political activist and YouTuber, said his use of the lepa symbol was a way of standing out as a local candidate.

“I think there is an advantage in reaching out to win votes with the advantage of my Bajau identity. I have more strength in the Bugaya constituency because my extended family is very large in this area,” said Jufazli, whose roots are in Kampung Bugaya, Semporna.

“So the Bugaya campaign machinery is relatively easy for me to access and I can win this Bugaya state by-election,” he said after filing his nomination papers today.

The lepa is a carved boat widely used by the seafaring Bajau community in daily life as a means of transport, communication and shelter.

Jufazli said he is committed to raising the issue of water supply and roads, which he claimed could not be resolved by previous assemblymen.

“This issue is very close to the hearts of Bugaya voters, and Semporna in general, this is my justification for contesting the seat here,” he stressed. He said the water issue is not a small matter but can be considered a crisis for the present and future generations.

Jufazli had previously contested as an independent candidate in the Tanjung Papat state seat in Sandakan in 2018.

The other candidates in Bugaya are Abd Aziz Mohd Ibno (BN-Umno), Arastam Pandorog (PH-PKR), Mohd Hassan Abu Bakar (GTA-Pejuang), Nazmawati Walli (Parti Bangsa Malaysia) and Karil Pg Kuraini of Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah.

The Bugaya by-election was originally scheduled for Jan 21 last year but it was postponed following the Covid-19 pandemic and later cancelled. It will now be held simultaneously with the general election on Nov 19.