GRS’s Darau candidate Razali Razi hugging a Warisan supporter after nominations yesterday. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah secretary-general Razali Razi has called on candidates in the state election to campaign maturely, saying they all share the same heart for Sabah despite their political differences.
Razali, who is contesting in Darau for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, said he had an epiphany after sharing a hug with a Warisan supporter following nominations yesterday.
“I realised that our political leanings may be different, but our heart for Sabah is the same.
“To me, regardless of what political party, religion, race or village you’re from, as long as we want Sabah and Daru to progress, you are family to me.
“I believe harmony can be achieved when we dare to make room for conversations, greetings and hugs while respecting each other’s choices (at the ballot box). Let us all make mature politics our culture,” he said in a Facebook post.
Razali, also known as Bob to local residents, was joined by about 2,000 supporters at the nomination centre in Sepanggar yesterday.
After being officially nominated as a candidate for the Darau seat, he was seen hugging with a Warisan supporter despite being “rivals”.
There will be a six-cornered contest in Darau, with Razali seeking to wrest the seat from Warisan’s Azhar Matussin, who has represented the constituency for two terms.
Azhar won the seat by 562 votes in the 2020 state election.
Razali, who is running in an election for the first time, said he has been on the ground in Darau for more than three years now.
A lawyer by profession, his focus will be on bolstering the village management structure and developing entrepreneurs and young people in Darau, if elected as its assemblyman.
Razali said the presence of about 2,000 supporters yesterday was just a small reflection of the support he enjoyed at the grassroots level which, he has forged over the past three years.
