Independent backing BN

Datuk John Ghani, who won the Kuala Penyu seat on an Independent ticket in the March 21, 2004 general elections, today openly declared support Datuk Lajim Ukin, the Barisan Nasional's (BN) candidate for the Beaufort parliamentary seat.

John said Lajim, as a Government's representative, had assisted him in Kuala Penyu in term of fund for development.

This time around, John is defending his seat, also as an Independent candidate as his application to join BN through Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) had been rejected as it was opposed by another BN's component party.

John, in his campaign, called on the voters in Kuala Penyu to vote for him and Lajim in the MP seat. He is involved in a-three-cornered contest, the other candidates being John Teo of BN-UPKO and Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR)Guan Dee Koh Hoi. He is confident that he will be able to retain the seat.

Meanwhile, John also disclosed that Datuk Wences Angang, the BN-UPKO candidate he defeated in the 2004's election had met him, inviting him to join UPKO but declined the offer.

John also said that Wences had also brought him to a meeting with UPKO's president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok for the same reason. On the eve of the nomination day, John said Teo met him to persuade him not to contest.

"I am contesting again with the support of the Kuala Penyu's constituents. I had never been anti-BN. I was in UMNO until the eve of the 2004's general elections nomination day," John said.

My Say:

It is an open secret that Lajim had all along been supporting John. Even their election posters are displayed on the same billboard. John had also been attending PBS functions whenever party president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is also the guest of honour.