00:00Political analysts are divided over Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Shahilmi Yahya's chances
00:07of defending the Tanjung Keramat seat in the upcoming Sabah state election.
00:12While analysts Romzi Atyong and Awang Azman Pawi expect a tough battle ahead for Shahilmi,
00:17Bilcer Bala believes the Putatan MP still has a shot at securing the seat.
00:22Bilcer of University Malaysia Sabah said Shahilmi, a first-time MP and state assemblyman, could
00:28use his track record as Deputy Chief Minister for the past two years to counter any voter
00:33dissatisfaction stemming from his drift with UMNO.
00:37Romzi, also of UMS, said Shahilmi has a tough road ahead as his 2020 victory was due more
00:43to UMNO's grassroots machinery than personal popularity.
00:47Meanwhile Awang Azman of University Malaya said Shahilmi risked alienating the voters
00:52who had originally backed him as an UMNO candidate if he defects from the party.
00:57He said Shahilmi's chances as an independent candidate would be slim, making it more likely
01:02for him to contest under GRS, but cautioned that he may lack acceptance from GRS supporters.
01:08However, Romzi said that voters in Sabah were placing increasing emphasis on candidates'
01:13credibility and their ability to deliver in terms of development over political affiliation.
01:19Last week, Shahilmi confirmed his intention to defend Tanjung Keramat, a seat he won on
01:24a Barisa national ticket, in the 2020 Sabah election, but did not disclose which party
01:29he would contest under.
01:31Narmada Raja, FMT.
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