TAWAU, April 18 – In Semporna, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is known as the ‘village minister’. Each time the Rural and Regional Development Minister goes over to Semporna, residents will greet his arrival with great joy. The Semporna-born minister was among leaders well liked by locals for his humility, friendly demeanor and understanding towards the needs of the Bajau-majority community.
When 55-year-old Mohd Shafie conducts a walkabout in Semporna town to visit shops and the market, traders and customers flock around him for a chance to shake his hand. His cheerful nature makes him a favourite among the public regardless of race and religion, including the Chinese community.
Therefore, approaching nomination day on Saturday, local residents are curious as to who will be contesting against Mohd Shafie. Semporna has been a BN stronghold since the 1970s and Tun Sakaran himself had never lost during elections. In the 2008 general election, Shafie defeated Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate Abdul Azis Abdul Hamid with a majority of 17,462 votes in a two-way contest. Abdul Azis only garnered 1,957 votes and lost his deposit.
This time, rumours have been circulating that the opposition candidate trying his luck in Semporna is Dr Zamri Abdul Habi, a doctor, representing PKR. Besides that, former teachers’ college lecturer Abdul Halim Bandan is said to be a possible independent candidate while Datu Badaruddin Tun Datu Mustapha is also said to be contesting, but which party he will represent is not yet certain.
The instrusion of terrorists from the southern Philippines will definitely become a topic during the campaigns. Coincidentally, Mohd Shafie was in Semporna when the incident broke out. The incident occurred on March 2 when Mohd Shafie was attending a programme in Kampung Simunul.
Upon hearing news of the shootout, he had wanted to rush to the scene but was stopped by security forces for safety reasons. He was instead sent to the Semporna Police Headquarters where he and Semporna Police Chief DSP Mohd Firdaus Francis Abdullah monitored the situation.
However, the following day Mohd Shafie insisted on going to Kampung Senallang Lama when he heard news that a villager killed a gunman who came after dawn and tried to take a villager as hostage. Mohd Shafie holds a diploma in shipping and management from the London Business College, and has a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the Staffordshire University in England.
After Umno expanded to Sabah, Mohd Shafie became Sabah Umno Youth Chief. He has been the Semporna Member of Parliament since 1995, taking over the seat from his uncle Tun Sakaran Dandai. He was appointed as deputy minister in the Housing and Local Government Ministry before taking up the task as Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister in 2004. He then moved to the Unity, Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry in April 2009.
During the Umno election in 2009, Mohd Shafie was chosen as Umno vice-president along with Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein. Although he realises the strong support Semporna residents have for him and BN, he would not be complacent. Mohd Shafie frequently advised the people: “Although we are strong now, don’t be too confident. We need to step up efforts and not be careless.”
BERNAMA
