Kuala lumpur: Barisan Nasional's (BN) Membakut candidate, Rusman Dulamit, is campaigning on three key pledges: to support the youth, back small businesses and fix local infrastructure. Affectionately known as Cikgu Rusman, the newcomer is prioritising young voters, a significant demographic in the constituency.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Rusman believes his experience as a former educator in the region will give him an advantage in connecting with the youth. "These are my former students. Since they already know me, it's easy to meet with these young people," he stated after a meeting with his campaign team at the Binsulok polling centre recently. He highlighted issues such as post-school skills training for students from less fortunate backgrounds, emphasizing the need to guide them towards Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Rusman proposed creating a dedicated youth team to identify the needs of young people in Membakut. "This youth think tank would involve young representatives from all ethnic groups in Membakut, so we can sit down together and discuss the actual needs of the youth," he explained.

In addition to youth support, Rusman pledged to focus on small business owners, particularly market and tamu traders from the B40 group who rely on government aid. He maintains that BN can reclaim Membakut, a former stronghold, due to the party's record of delivering local development. BN is contesting 45 seats in the 17th Sabah State Election.

Rusman linked local development projects in Membakut and Bongawan, under the Kimanis parliamentary constituency, to the work of BN's Kimanis member of parliament, Datuk Mohamad Alamin. He faces a ten-cornered contest in Membakut, challenging Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, who has held the seat since 2004.