By MU VITET

KOTA KINABALU: Pakatan Harapan (PKR) candidate for N.20 Api-Api, Thonny Chee, hopes he will be able to deliver the seat in the 17th Sabah General Election.

He said if voters support him, it would mean they have a slight advantage because the Prime Minister is also the president of PKR.

“So if I’m given the opportunity to become the voice of Api-Api, I can have direct access to the Prime Minister,” said Thonny after the nomination process at Wisma Hasil here.

Thonny, who is involved in a five-cornered contest, said he will continue the development carried out by his predecessor, Datuk Seri Christina Liew, and will further improve whatever is lacking.

“Interestingly, in Api-Api, most of the voters are not staying in Api-Api. That is the concern I have now.

“How do I actually serve them well outside of the constituency? But I’ll try my best to provide service for them, be their voice,” said Thonny, who is of mixed Chinese and Rungus descent.

He admitted that he is an orang kampung from Pitas and is still struggling to speak Chinese, given that Api-Api is a Chinese-dominated seat.

He expressed hope that along the way he could learn more about Chinese culture and heritage from the community.

On the feedback from his walkabout, he said he received positive vibes from the Chinese community.

“Because I think today, it’s not so much about what race you are, or where you come from, but how you can deliver for them, especially to the Chinese community,” he said.

“All they’re concerned about is their well-being and their businesses,” he added.

He said Api-Api also has a Malay community scattered around Telipok, Kinarut, Inanam, Kapayan and even Luyang, who have also expressed concerns which he hopes to address.

Regarding the 40 per cent issue, he said as a Sabahan, he understands the matter but will leave it to the Prime Minister.

“For me, I focus more on the local issues,” he said.

The candidates for the N.20 Api-Api seat are Thonny Chee (PKR–Pakatan Harapan), Loi Kok Liang (Parti Warisan Sabah), Ting Shu Kiong (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku), Soh Kee Suat (Parti Bumi Kenyalang) and Ng Chun Sua (Parti Impian Sabah).

The Election Commission Returning Officer, Abdul Mukti Muchlish, announced the candidates.