Gerakan wants two more state seats in Sabah

Its deputy president Datuk Dr Cheah Soon Hai said the request would be made to the Barisan Nasional (BN) Supreme Council upon completion of the re-delineation exercise carried out by the Election Commission for 13 additional state seats approved by the State Legislative Assembly last month.

"As a BN component party, we will register our interest to contest in two more seats in Sabah.

"With our outstanding track record in Sabah, we are confident that we can win (two new seats)," he said when officiating the party's 20th Sabah Delegates Conference here, Saturday.

Gerakan currently has two state seats in Sabah - Tanjong Papat and Elopura, which are held by its vice president Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, and Datuk Au Kam Wah.

Dr Cheah said Gerakan could ensure, with stronger representation in Sabah, that the needs of the people in the state would be brought to the government's attention.

"Gerakan Sabah has a duty to explain to the government on Sabah's development and the problems it faces.

"Our mission is to ensure the betterment of the people and the only way to achieve that is to continue to serve them as best we can," he said.

Sabah Liaison chairman Datuk Gordon Leong Vui Cheung said Gerakan had many potential candidates to contest in the general election and requested the party leadership to consider one Parliament seat for Sabah.

He also proposed that a naval base be set up in either Sandakan or Tawau. He noted that there was already a naval base in Sandakan, but which needed upgrading.