KOTA KINABALU, Oct 30 — Warisan will field young and first-time candidates in three of Sabah’s urban federal seats for the 15th general election.

Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal announced that former DAP member Amanda Yeo will take on Sabah DAP veteran Chan Foong Hin in the Kota Kinabalu seat.

He named Yeo, a research analyst and former private secretary to the late Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Stephen Wong, as the candidate at a Warisan event.

"My ‘daughter’, Amanda, a highly qualified youth with experience in several government departments,” he said.

Yeo, 29, has a master’s degree in international relations from Nanyang Technological University Singapore.

Shafie also named Alex Thien, 31, a chemical engineer specialising in renewable energy, for the Sandakan seat.

In Tawau, lawyer KC Chen, 28, will be the Warisan candidate.

Despite his youth, Shafie said Chen would be capable of raising legal arguments in Parliament.

"We want young people that can drive the country to new heights. I know there will come a time when I have to go, so I want to generate the next generation of leaders so they can take over,” he said.

Warisan previously announced nine other candidates — Datuk Adnan Puteh (Sipitang), Dr Daud Yusof (Kimanis), Ahmad Hassan (Papar), Datuk Jilid Kuminding (Kota Marudu), Datuk Azis Jamman (Sepanggar), Datuk Darell Leiking (Penampang), Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud), Rashid Harun (Kudat) and Markus Siton (Ranau).

The party intends to contest in all 25 of the state’s parliamentary seats.

Shafie is also set to announce candidates for the peninsula, where Warisan will contest in seven states, on November 1.