KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP is eyeing the interior Kadazandusun heartland seat of Keningau, held by Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, among seven seats it will contest under Pakatan Harapan.
Freelance journalist Grelydia Gillod, 32, was named as its Keningau candidate.
Meanwhile, the party has retained its three incumbents: Chan Fong Hin, 44, in Kota Kinabalu; its first ethnic Murut MP Noorita Sual, 42, in Tenom; and Vivian Wong, 33, in Sandakan.
Gillod said she is aware of the challenge of taking on a deputy chief minister.
"I know going against Dr Jeffrey is tough. I am a young candidate, I will try my best and set an example for other youths that we can try," she said of the seat.
A Kitingan has held the seat since 1986 – first older brother Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin until 2018, and Dr Jeffrey from then till now.
Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Frankie Poon said the party will also contest the mixed seat of Batu Sapi where it will field local leader Liau Fui Fui, 39.
The party is also venturing into the Muslim-majority seat of Lahad Datu for the first time, fielding division Youth chief Oscar Sia Yu Hock, 34.
The mixed seat of Papar will see local Sino-Kadazan Henry Shim Chee On contesting,
"Our candidates are young, diverse and inclusive. The average age of the seven candidates is below 40, which shows how dedicated we are in grooming our younger generation as leaders," Poon said at the announcement where party veteran Lim Kit Siang was also present.
During a brief speech, Lim said their one-time ally Parti Warisan's foray into Peninsular Malaysia will not have any impact as its candidates would lose their deposits.
"It is his (Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal) right to go to Peninsular Malaysia," he said.
Lim said of all the potential prime minister candidates, Pakatan's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the best choice to help Sabahans in their pursuit of rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Both Wong and Chan, who are expected to face young candidates from Warisan in Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu, said it was good for young people to be empowered and hoped for a civil contest among all parties.
