2025 Sabah state election
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73 of 79 seats in the Legislative Assembly 37 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Electoral Map of Sabah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2025 Sabah state election, formally the 17th Sabah general election, will elect the 17th Sabah State Legislative Assembly. It must be held by 9 December 2025 at the latest, persuant to clause 21(4) of the Constitution of Sabah.[1][2][3] This date is dependent on when the 16th Legislative Assembly first sat. All 73 seats will be up for contests, presuming no constituencies are added or removed in a redistribution.
Background
[edit]Traditionally, state elections are held simultaneously with the parliamentary election but each state can decide when to hold its election. This is because state assemblies are dissolved by their respective ruler or governor on the advice of the chief minister of the state.
With the formation of the unity government, every single party in Sabah is a part of that government. However at the state level, there are discrepancies whereby Warisan and Barisan Nasional are not a part of the coalition. Yet the present practice for the unity government would be that of a seat negotiation, or an unsigned electoral pact where no two parties would send candidates, only a single candidate would be sent from the unity government. It remains to be seen how at the state level such cooperation would play out.
Electoral system
[edit]Elections in Malaysia are conducted at the federal and state levels. Federal elections elect members of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament, while state elections in each of the 13 states elect members of their respective state legislative assembly. As Malaysia follows the Westminster system of government, the head of government (Prime Minister at the federal level and the Menteri Besar/Chief Ministers/Premier at the state level) is the person who commands the confidence of the majority of members in the respective legislature – this is normally the leader of the party or coalition with the majority of seats in the legislature.
The Legislative Assembly consists of 73 members, known as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), that are elected for five-year terms. Each MLA is elected from a single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post voting system; each constituency contains approximately an equal number of voters. If one party obtains a majority of seats, then that party is entitled to form the government, with its leader becoming the Chief Minister. In the event of a hung parliament, where no single party obtains the majority of seats, the government may still form through a coalition or a confidence and supply agreement with other parties. In practice, coalitions and alliances in Malaysia, and by extension, in Sabah, generally persist between elections, and member parties do not normally contest for the same seats.
The voting age is currently 18.[4][5][6][7] Elections are conducted by the Election Commission of Malaysia, which is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Department. Malaysia practices automatic voter registration but does not practice compulsory voting.
Preparations
[edit]On 27 March 2024, State Chairman of Barisan Nasional (BN) and United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) of Sabah Bung Moktar Radin dismissed the possibility of Sabah BN to work with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition led by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji meanwhile, said that GRS is open to collaboration from other parties, but insists that the preference is working together with Pakatan Harapan (PH), who joined the Sabah government after BN withdrawal during the 2023 Sabah political crisis.[8]
Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional (PN) have announced its intention to contest all 73 state seats in its first foray into the state, the move which led to Sabah Progressive Party's (SAPP) exit from PN, as announced by party leader Yong Teck Lee in December 2024, as SAPP insists that only party which has origins in Sabah are allowed to contest the election.[9] SAPP will contest the election under GRS, the local coalition which it is a component in parallel with PN since 2020. This is the first time PN contesting the election under its own banner, although its component party BERSATU Sabah have contested and won seats before, under PH(PKR) and GRS in the 2018 and 2020 state elections respectively. PAS and Gerakan also have contested in Sabah before, with Gerakan having won seats under BN banner.
Social Democratic Harmony Party (KDM) also confirms its first participation as single party without coalition in the state election, targeting 43 seats. Announced by its president Peter Anthony on 15 December 2024, Anthony instead will not contest in the election as his court case appeal is still pending.[10]
Candidates
[edit]No. | Parliamentary constituency |
No. | State Constituency | Incumbent Member | Incumbent Coalition (Party) |
Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GRS | WARISAN | BN | PH | KDM | Others | ||||||||||||
Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | ||||||
P167 | Kudat | N01 | Banggi | Mohammad Mohamarin | GRS (GAGASAN) | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N02 | Bengkoka | Harun Durabi | BN (UMNO) | BN (UMNO) | KDM | ||||||||||||
N03 | Pitas | Ruddy Awah | GRS (GAGASAN) | KDM | |||||||||||||
N04 | Tanjong Kapor | Ben Chong Chen Bin | GRS (GAGASAN) | WARISAN | Verdon Bahanda[11] | Independent | |||||||||||
P168 | Kota Marudu | N05 | Matunggong | Julita Majungki | GRS (PBS) | GRS (PBS) | KDM | ||||||||||
N06 | Bandau | Wetrom Bahanda | KDM | KDM | |||||||||||||
N07 | Tandek | Hendrus Anding | GRS (PBS) | GRS (PBS) | KDM | ||||||||||||
P169 | Kota Belud | N08 | Pintasan | Fairuz Renddan | GRS (GAGASAN) | KDM | |||||||||||
N09 | Tempasuk | Mohd Arsad Bistari | GRS (GAGASAN) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||||
N10 | Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak | BN (UMNO) | Salleh Said Keruak[12] | BN (UMNO) | KDM | |||||||||||
N11 | Kadamaian | Ewon Benedick | PH (UPKO) | KDM | |||||||||||||
P170 | Tuaran | N12 | Sulaman | Hajiji Noor | GRS (GAGASAN) | ||||||||||||
N13 | Pantai Dalit | Jasnih Daya | GRS (GAGASAN) | BN (UMNO) | KDM | ||||||||||||
N14 | Tamparuli | Jahid Jahim | GRS (PBS) | Jahid Jahim | GRS (PBS) | KDM | |||||||||||
N15 | Kiulu | Joniston Bangkuai | GRS (PBS) | GRS (PBS) | KDM | ||||||||||||
P171 | Sepanggar | N16 | Karambunai | Yakub Khan | BN (UMNO) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||
N17 | Darau | Azhar Matussin | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
N18 | Inanam | Peto Galim | PH (PKR) | KDM | |||||||||||||
P172 | Kota Kinabalu | N19 | Likas | Tan Lee Fatt | PH (DAP) | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N20 | Api-Api | Christina Liew Chin Jin | PH (PKR) | ||||||||||||||
N21 | Luyang | Ginger Phoong Jin Zhe | PH (DAP) | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
P173 | Putatan | N22 | Tanjung Aru | Junz Wong | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N23 | Petagas | Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari | GRS (GAGASAN) | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
N24 | Tanjung Keramat | Shahelmey Yahya | BN (UMNO) | Jeffrey Nor Mohamed [13] | BN (UMNO) | ||||||||||||
P174 | Penampang | N25 | Kapayan | Jannie Lasimbang | PH (DAP) | WARISAN | KDM | ||||||||||
N26 | Moyog | Darell Leiking | WARISAN | WARISAN | KDM | ||||||||||||
P175 | Papar | N27 | Limbahau | Juil Nuatim | GRS | WARISAN | KDM | ||||||||||
N28 | Kawang | Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar | GRS (GAGASAN) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||||
N29 | Pantai Manis | Mohd Tamin Zainal | BN (UMNO) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||||
P176 | Kimanis | N30 | Bongawan | Daud Yusof | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N31 | Membakut | Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif | GRS (GAGASAN) | ||||||||||||||
P177 | Beaufort | N32 | Klias | Isnin Aliasnih | GRS (GAGASAN) | KDM | |||||||||||
N33 | Kuala Penyu | Limus Jury | GRS (GAGASAN) | KDM | |||||||||||||
P178 | Sipitang | N34 | Lumadan | Ruslan Muharam | GRS (PBS) | GRS (PBS) | KDM | ||||||||||
N35 | Sindumin | Yusof Yacob | GRS (GAGASAN) | WARISAN | KDM | ||||||||||||
P179 | Ranau | N36 | Kundasang | Joachim Gunsalam | GRS (PBS) | GRS (PBS) | KDM | ||||||||||
N37 | Karanaan | Masidi Manjun | GRS (GAGASAN) | KDM | |||||||||||||
N38 | Paginatan | Abidin Madingkir | GRS (STAR) | GRS (STAR) | KDM | ||||||||||||
P180 | Keningau | N39 | Tambunan | Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan | GRS (STAR) | GRS (STAR) | KDM | ||||||||||
N40 | Bingkor | Robert Tawik | GRS (STAR) | GRS (STAR) | KDM | ||||||||||||
N41 | Liawan | Annuar Ayub Aman | GRS (STAR) | GRS (STAR) | BN (UMNO) | KDM | |||||||||||
P181 | Tenom | N42 | Melalap | Peter Anthony | KDM | WARISAN | KDM | ||||||||||
N43 | Kemabong | Rubin Balang | GRS (GAGASAN) | KDM | |||||||||||||
P182 | Pensiangan | N44 | Tulid | Flovia Ng | GRS (STAR) | GRS (STAR) | KDM | ||||||||||
N45 | Sook | Ellron Alfred Angin | GRS (STAR) | GRS (STAR) | KDM | ||||||||||||
N46 | Nabawan | Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin | GRS (GAGASAN) | KDM | |||||||||||||
P183 | Beluran | N47 | Telupid | Jonnybone Kurum | GRS (PBS) | GRS (PBS) | KDM | ||||||||||
N48 | Sugut | James Ratib | GRS (GAGASAN) | BN (UMNO) | KDM | ||||||||||||
N49 | Labuk | Samad Jambri | GRS (GAGASAN) | KDM | |||||||||||||
P184 | Libaran | N50 | Gum-Gum | Arunarsin Taib | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N51 | Sungai Manila | Mokran Ingkat | BN (UMNO) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||||
N52 | Sungai Sibuga | Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain | BN (UMNO) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||||
P185 | Batu Sapi | N53 | Sekong | Alias Sani | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N54 | Karamunting | George Hiew Vun Zin | GRS (GAGASAN) | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
P186 | Sandakan | N55 | Elopura | Calvin Chong Ket Kiun | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N56 | Tanjong Papat | Frankie Poon Ming Fung | PH (DAP) | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
P187 | Kinabatangan | N57 | Kuamut | Masiung Banah | GRS (GAGASAN) | KDM | |||||||||||
N58 | Lamag | Bung Moktar Radin | BN (UMNO) | BN (UMNO) | KDM | ||||||||||||
N59 | Sukau | Jafry Ariffin | BN (UMNO) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||||
P188 | Lahad Datu | N60 | Tungku | Assaffal P. Alian | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N61 | Segama | Mohammadin Ketapi | BN (UMNO) | WARISAN | BN (UMNO) | ||||||||||||
N62 | Silam | Dumi Pg Masdal | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
N63 | Kunak | Norazlinah Arif | GRS (GAGASAN) | WARISAN | BN (UMNO) | ||||||||||||
P189 | Semporna | N64 | Sulabayan | Jaujan Sambakong | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N65 | Senallang | Shafie Apdal | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
N66 | Bugaya | Jamil Hamzah | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
P190 | Tawau | N67 | Balung | Hamid Awang | GRS (GAGASAN) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||
N68 | Apas | Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan | GRS (GAGASAN) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||||
N69 | Sri Tanjong | Justin Wong Yung Bin | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
P191 | Kalabakan | N70 | Kukusan | Rina Jainal | GRS (PHRS) | WARISAN | |||||||||||
N71 | Tanjong Batu | Andi Muhammad Suryandy Bandy | BN (UMNO) | BN (UMNO) | |||||||||||||
N72 | Merotai | Sarifuddin Hata | WARISAN | WARISAN | |||||||||||||
N73 | Sebatik | Hassan A. Gani Pg. Amir | GRS (GAGASAN) | WARISAN |
References
[edit]- ^ "Get ready for state election 'like it's tomorrow', Sabah Umno members told". The Star. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "Warisan engages in talks with UMNO on potential pact for Sabah polls". focusmalaysia.my. 2023-08-24. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ Abdullah, Izwan (2023-11-13). "Hajiji beri bayangan PRN Sabah mungkin diawalkan". Harian Metro. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ^ Nandini Balakrishnan (28 September 2016). "Here's The Fastest Way To Register As A Voter Before The Next Elections". Says.com. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
Qualifications needed to register as a voter in Malaysia:
a) A Malaysian citizen above the age of 21.
b) A resident of an election constituency.
c) Is not disqualified by any laws. - ^ "A Young Malaysian's Guide to the Election". Juice. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
You are not eligible to register if you are:
a) on the qualifying date, you are serving jail term or detained as a person of unsound mind.
b) before the qualifying date, you have been convicted or sentenced to death or serving a jail term of more than 12 months and you're still liable on the qualifying date.
c) found guilty under the Election Offences Act, 1954.
d) have a foreign citizenship (Malaysian citizenship law does not permit a Malaysian to carry dual citizenship). - ^ "Federal Gazette: Undi18, automatic voter registration to come into effect Dec 15 before Sabah polls". Borneo Post Online. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
- ^ "Undi18 to come into force Dec 15, but might still be too late for S'wak". Malaysiakini. 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
- ^ Reporters, F. M. T. (15 December 2024). "GRS reaffirms commitment to work with Sabah PH for state election". Free Malaysia Today | FMT. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Bernama (14 December 2024). "SAPP quits Perikatan Nasional, Yong announces". thesun.my. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ Abdullah, Izwan (15 December 2024). "KDM confirms contesting in Sabah polls, its president skips due to ongoing legal appeal | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Verdon tanding DUN Tanjong Kapor atas tiket Bebas". www.astroawani.com. 2024-10-13. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ ASMIN, ASYIKIN (2024-11-10). "PRN Sabah: Bung Moktar umum Salleh kekal di DUN Usukan". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ Reporters, F. M. T. (2024-10-26). "Bung mahu BN rampas kerusi Tanjung Keramat dari 'pengkhianat'". Free Malaysia Today | FMT. Retrieved 2024-10-26.