One of the most interesting Sabah State Elections happened in 1999. PBS was still in the opposition then: they left the BN in 1990 and rejoined on 23rd January 2002.

The State Assembly was dissolved on 22nd February 1999 after much speculation. Nomination day: 2nd March. Election days: 11th – 12th March.

Here are some pictures that I took then, which, among others brings home the following points:
- personal attacks abound in politics, more so during intense campaigning so close to election day;
- there are no permanent enemies in politics, no matter how grave the accusations are

Pictures were taken in and around Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran and Tamparuli in early March 1999.

The following was written by supporters of Datuk Wilfred Bumburing attacking Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. Of course today they are friends again:

Bumburing was the incumbent, winning the 1994 state elections by 5,087 votes. This time, he lost by more than 2,000 to PBS’ Edward Linggu Bukut. Revenge was complete. Another candidate, Datuk Monggoh Orow, the former Tuaran MP, standing on a Bersekutu ticket, was totally rejected: only 475. A year later Linggu defected to PBRS with 5 other assemblymen. A further 2 years down the road, he’s back in again. Yes, these politicians can really make the rakyat go nuts. And among the six original who defected, it seems that only Johnny Goh and Louis Rampas played their cards right – they’re still assemblymen now (well, at least until February 2008).

The “frog” issue (exodus of PBS assemblymen in 1994) was exploited to the full by PBS, you can see many many pictures of huge frogs with human heads, like the following caricature of Bumburing and Dompok:

Even if frogs were not drawn, the word “Katak” featured prominently:

This was one of Datuk Monggoh Orow’s most prominent billboards in the middle of Tamparuli:

And this one was pro PBS:

That year, Bersekutu was led by Datuk Harris Salleh. The following picture was taken along Tuaran road:

He stood in Likas and got more than 3,500 votes. Not bad for a state seat, but still he got less than the runnerup, Dr Chong Eng Leong (PBS) at 4K+ and the runaway winner, Datuk Yong Teck Lee at 9K+. Later the result was declared null and void, a by-election was held on 21st July 2001, and Datuk Yong got an even bigger majority: 7K+.

Look at this, it was dead serious then, but sounds very awkward in today’s context: Dompok vs Pairin:

The result then: Datuk Clarence Bongkos (PBS) got 10K+, Dompok got 6K+. In 1994, Dompok, while still in PBS won by >3K. In the same constituency was Benedict Sakunil Mansul, at 23 perhaps the youngest ever candidate in the history of Sabah State Elections. Representing Bersekutu, unfortunately he got less than 300 votes, but at least he got more than Datuk Conrad Mojuntin (Independent), ex minister: a mere 59 votes. If you think that’s bad, Pasok president Cleftus Mojingol got 18 votes. Surely it can’t get any worse than that? It can. During the 1990 state elections, Edmund Otigil (Independent), contesting against then chief minister, Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan in Tambunan, got a mere 6 votes. If my memory serves me right, I remembered someone getting 4 votes, but can’t remember who or when. Anybody can help?

Popularity: 1% [?]

Permalink | life in general |