Penampang: Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Remysta Jimmy Taylor's identity as a true 'Moyog boy'-born, raised, and well-known within the local community-serves as a significant advantage for him in the 17th Sabah State Election,
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ramanan, who also serves as the Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development, emphasized that Remysta's deep local connections provide PH with a distinct edge. Remysta not only grew up in Moyog but also received his education there and continues to reside in the area.
"In Sabah, people generally prefer a local candidate, and Remysta is not just a Sabahan or someone from Penampang...he is truly a Moyog boy. He was born in Moyog, studied in Moyog, grew up in Moyog and still lives in Moyog," Ramanan remarked during a media interaction at Tamu Desa Babagon, where he was accompanied by Remysta.
Ramanan shared that during visits to villages such as Babagon and Donggongon, Remysta was warmly greeted by residents who recognized him not merely as a politician, but as a familiar local figure. "Everyone who came to meet us, he (Remysta) called them aunty or uncle. Those greetings weren't just out of respect...they reflected long-standing relationships within the community," he added.
Discussing PH's prospects in Moyog for this election, Ramanan noted that the response from residents in the constituency has been very encouraging. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of continued hard work by all parties, particularly the candidates and campaign machinery, until polling day.
"We are in a good position, but we cannot be overconfident. In politics, the tide can change within 24 hours. For now, our machinery is running strongly and the feedback we're receiving is positive, but there are still nine days to go. Anything can happen," Ramanan cautioned.
Moyog, home to 31,084 registered voters, is one of the two state constituencies in Penampang, with Kapayan being the other. According to the Election Commission (EC), a total of 1,784,843 voters are eligible to vote in this state election, comprising 1,760,417 ordinary voters, 11,697 military personnel and their spouses, and 12,729 police personnel and their spouses.