The few times Bengkoka made national headlines over the years were all due to floods and bad road conditions.

In 2022, 58 children were forced to risk their lives to go to school by boat after the suspension bridge connecting their homes to the school was destroyed by a serious flood.

Just last month, 10,000 of its residents were affected by the same natural disaster, and some school-going children still could not attend school as the road remained submerged weeks later.

The state assembly seat within the district of Pitas may not be known to many Malaysians. But when the seat was introduced in the 2020 Sabah election, 11 politicians vied to capture the constituency.

It was a Malaysian electoral record for multi-cornered fights of sorts.

So what makes Bengkoka a hot seat, and why do so many politicians want to contest despite it being within one of the eight poorest districts in Malaysia, with a long list of legacy problems? 

2020 was a political free-for-all, and the outcome saw Barisan Nasional’s Harun Durabi squeeze out a narrow win with 2,528 votes, just edging out Junsim Ruminzing from Upko.

Talk to the people in Bengkoka, and they’ll tell you how this came to be, and it wasn’t just about politics—it was somewhat a sabotage.

Jamasian Rumpak, who was part of the Warisan campaign team in 2020, did not hold back when talking about what went down.

“Many of us were on the ground, mobilizing support and doing all the hard work,” he said. “But when Upko got the seat, it felt like we were discarded. Our voices didn’t matter, and many felt betrayed.”

Rumpak explained that Warisan’s grassroots supporters were fuming. They had worked tirelessly, but when Upko was handed the ticket to contest in Bengkoka, they felt snubbed.

In protest, they decided to hit back in the most effective way possible—they did not vote for Upko.

“Kudat was a Barisan Nasional stronghold, and many decided to vote for Harun, who is from Umno,” he said.

“Many of us were former Umno supporters who joined Warisan for change,” Rumpak said. “But when we felt ignored, we voted for BN out of spite. It wasn’t about loyalty; it was about being respected.”

Warisan, Upko, and Pakatan Harapan were allies at the time.

That internal drama would’ve been enough to lose an election, but many also spoke of cash being handed out during the campaign trail.

Many in Pitas face financial difficulties, and even casting a vote can be troublesome due to the distance. For them, cash for votes was somewhat of an instant relief.

Most Bengkoka families are in traditional occupations—farmers and fishermen—earning a seasonal income sometimes less than RM1,000 a month.

It was alleged that not only did BN distribute cash, but Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which was their ally, doubled the amount to secure votes.

Both GRS and BN had gone all out to beat Warisan, Pakatan Harapan, and Upko at the time.

The internal drama didn’t end there.

It spilled into the 2022 general election when Kudat’s parliamentary seat—Bengkoka’s constituency—was won by Datuk Verdon Bahanda, an independent candidate.

Warisan’s pick was unpopular, and another candidate floated for the party was objected to as he was deemed too young, despite being a favourite.

The vote was fractured again.

That election left a bitter taste for many, and five years on, nothing has changed in Bengkoka. Perhaps the most glaring issue at the time of writing is the few freshly sealed potholes on its already pothole-ridden two-way road.

Whether a political mishap or otherwise, Bengkoka is rich in culture, handicrafts, and attractions. For many who visit, it is also famous for its prawns and freshwater seafood.

Bengkoka’s voters are a mix of 55% Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, and Rungus (KDMR), 20% Bajau or Ubian, and other indigenous groups. Muslims make up 43% of the population, while non-Muslim bumiputeras account for 55%.

Throw in approximately 4,000 young voters aged 18 and above, and it’s clear the old political rules won’t apply.

Despite the growing number of voters, some areas in Bengkoka still lack clean and treated water, reliable internet connections, and employment opportunities. These issues, combined with constant flooding and poor road conditions, may not bode well for the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and its partner, Pakatan Harapan.

A Bengkoka voter, known only as Neneng, noted that her village still relies on water harvesting despite the constant flooding.

The coffeeshop worker said she was from Kampung Manggis, a quiet village where the Walai Ondoton Pitas Homestay, a community-based tourism initiative, is located.

The 32-year-old made no secret of her dislike for the current assemblyman, but her face lit up when the name Warisan was mentioned.

She also spoke about Fauziah Stephens, a name that keeps coming up among locals in Bengkoka.

Fauziah is the daughter of the late Tun Fuad Stephens, Sabah’s first Chief Minister, whom Neneng described as a respected figure in the area.

She is known for her grassroots work, from helping flood victims to organizing community programs through her NGO, Reach Out, which she founded and chairs.

Reach Out has been actively involved in providing emergency aid during floods in Pitas, addressing challenges faced by students commuting in overcrowded boats, poverty alleviation, and distributing food baskets during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Fauziah has always been with the people, not just during elections. If she runs, she could unite the voters who were previously split,” said Neneng.

While Fauziah is not officially Warisan’s candidate at this point, there is no denying that a political battle is shaping up in Bengkoka.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is likely to field a candidate from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) if they fail to form an electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

If they do cooperate with PH, they may compromise with Upko, which contested Bengkoka in 2020.

Upko has made no secret of its interest, with party information chief Dr. Peter Jr. Naintin noting that their candidate, Ruminzing, lost to BN by a small margin in 2020.

Umno is expected to defend the state seat, while Perikatan Nasional is also eyeing the constituency.

Locals also noted a new player in the race. Datuk Peter Anthony’s Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) is reportedly eyeing the seat, with local members already working the ground to woo voters. – February 23, 2025

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