A New Voice in Kapayan: Billy Joe Dominic Steps Forward With a Sabah-First Vision

20 November 2025

KOTA KINABALU: When Billy Joe Dominic talks about Kapayan, he speaks not as a political hopeful rehearsing campaign lines, but as someone who sees the constituency as an extension of his own home.

For him, the decision to contest the N25 Kapayan seat is not merely a political step, it is a personal commitment shaped by years of public service, family ties, and a deepening sense of responsibility towards Sabah’s future.

For three years, Billy Joe served as Special Officer to Penampang Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Ewon Benedick, an experience he describes as transformative.

Observing the day-to-day demands of constituency work and policy discussions, he says, helped mould his leadership style, one grounded in “principles, firmness, and integrity.”

“Those years were more than administrative work,” he reflects. “They shaped how I understand leadership, how I listen to people, and how I want to serve.”

Billy Joe’s political route into Kapayan is also anchored in a personal story. His wife, Marilyn, a native of the Kapayan Low-Cost Housing area and member of the Monjitol family, grew up in the community he now seeks to represent.

Through her, he says, Kapayan became part of his own life long before politics entered the picture.

“Kapayan is my home,” he says. “It’s where I spend my days, where my family belongs, and where I want to give the best of my abilities.”

A Campaign Shaped by ‘Sabah First’

At the centre of Billy Joe’s platform is the Sabah First Agenda , a principle he describes as essential in addressing what he sees as the gradual erosion of Sabah’s rights under federal governance.

To him, Sabah First is not a slogan but a lens through which decisions must be evaluated.

“Every decision, political or administrative, must begin with Sabah’s interests,” he explains. “In Kapayan, that means policies and programmes must come from the voices and needs of Kapayan residents themselves.”

Focus Areas Reflect Grassroots Concerns

Unlike manifesto-style lists, Billy Joe’s priorities for Kapayan read more like a reflection of ongoing conversations with community members.

These include:

Developing better-planned basic infrastructure

Strengthening spiritual and community development

Improving access to quality educational opportunities

Enhancing welfare support and family economic stability

Empowering women and youth in Kapayan

Supporting sustainable entrepreneurship.

Each point, he says, is rooted in recurring concerns raised by residents and community leaders.

Billy Joe’s entrance into the race comes at a time when voters in Sabah are increasingly vocal about governance, equity, and state rights. For the Kapayan constituency, one of the more urban and diverse seats in Sabah, his Sabah-first orientation and community-rooted narrative could offer a distinctive approach.

With humility, he frames his candidacy as an invitation to voters:

“I am offering myself to serve Kapayan in the way I believe leadership should be, principled, courageous, and focused on the people.”

As the state prepares for what is expected to be a competitive election season, Billy Joe Dominic’s bid introduces a fresh dynamic to the contest: a candidate shaped by mentorship, grounded in community ties, and driven by a mission to usher in what he calls “A New Era for Kapayan.”