17th Sabah state election

KOTA KINABALU — PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reminded the party’s candidates for the Sabah state election and election machinery to go to the ground, engage with the people, and explain current issues affecting the state.

According to two PKR leaders, the reminder was conveyed by the prime minister during his speech at the PKR President’s Mandate Ceremony held here today ahead of the 17th Sabah state election at the end of this month.

Senior Political Secretary to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said Anwar emphasised the importance of PKR candidates and machinery to reach out to the people and explain the government’s efforts in addressing local issues.

“In this context, cooperation and coordination between the Federal Government and the Sabah State Government must be strengthened to ensure the best service delivery to the people,” he told reporters after the event.

Shamsul, who is also Melaka PKR chairman, said Anwar also stressed the need for close collaboration between the PKR machinery in Sabah and party teams at the central, state, and division levels nationwide to strengthen preparations ahead of the state polls.

“All party leaders have been mobilised to go down to the ground together with divisional leaders in Sabah. The Central Leadership Council and state leaders will be assigned to assist with the campaign here,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sabah PKR chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the president’s mandate also underscored the need for thorough preparation by the party’s machinery and candidates to engage the people and explain fundamental issues affecting the people.

“The message is clear — the machinery must be fully prepared to go to the ground and address grassroots issues such as water supply, roads, education, and economic development,” he said.

He said the campaign should also focus on explaining the MADANI Government’s initiatives in resolving local issues involving the Sabah State Government.

Commenting on Datuk Ewon Benedick’s resignation as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Mustapha described it as premature, noting that there remains room for discussion on the 40 per cent Sabah revenue claim issue.

“The decision on whether to appeal the (High Court) ruling on the 40 per cent revenue entitlement for Sabah has not yet been made, and there is still ample room for dialogue to discuss the matter,” he said. — BERNAMA

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KOTA KINABALU — Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) today unveiled 41 candidates, comprising mostly new and young faces, while retaining several experienced leaders to contest in the 17th State Election at the end of this month.

Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the selected candidates represent a comprehensive slate aimed at ensuring Sabah progresses in a more structured, prosperous and inclusive manner.

“Sabah BN is confident that the blend of seasoned leaders with fresh faces and highly qualified young candidates will provide a significant advantage in steering Sabah towards a brighter and more competitive future,” he said when announcing the candidate list here today.

Bung Moktar, however, noted that the list is not final and remains subject to ongoing developments, with additional names expected to be revealed later.

He added that the lineup is further strengthened by the candidates’ strong academic qualifications, with the majority holding bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, and two of them being medical doctors.

According to Bung Moktar, the selection proved that the candidates fielded were not only experienced but also intellectually and professionally qualified, as well as capable of driving the state’s economic, technological, and social development agendas with greater competence and credibility.

“This line-up of candidates will carry BN’s continued commitment to drive Sabah’s development, beginning with enhancing rural and infrastructure growth, creating employment opportunities, increasing the people’s income, and strengthening the education system and human capital. This is in line with the spirit of ensuring regional equality consistent with the essence of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.

Today’s announcement sees five incumbents defending their respective seats — Datuk Harun Durabi (Bengkoka), Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak (Usukan), Datuk Yakub Khan (Karambunai), Datuk Jafry Ariffin (Sukau), and Bung Moktar himself in Lamag.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup will be contesting state seats for the first time, in Tempasuk and Sook respectively.

Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin will also be making a return to contest the Bongawan seat after his defeat in 2018, while former Sabah Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Bolkiah Ismail has been named the candidate for the Pitas seat.Following is the list of BN candidates for the 17th Sabah state election as announced today:

• N1 Banggi – Normalah Rasik
• N2 Bengkoka – Datuk Harun Durabi
• N3 Pitas – Datuk Bolkiah Ismail
• N4 Tanjung Kapur – Kevin Lee Sip Kin
• N8 Pintasan – Tadzul Radim
• N9 Tempasuk – Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan
• N10 Usukan – Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak
• N12 Sulaman – Dr Shahnon Rizal Thaijuddin
• Ν13 Pantai Dalit – Alfian Sambas
• N16 Karambunai – Datuk Yakub Khan
• N17 Darau – Arfansyah Abdul Gafar
• N24 Tanjung Keramat – Jeffery Noor Mohamed
• N28 Kawang Datuk Jamal Norubit
• N29 Pantai Manis – Redzuan Ismail
• N30 Bongawan – Datuk Mohamad Alamin
• N31 Membakut – Rusman Dulamit
• N32 Klias – Osin Jilon
• N33 Kuala Penyu – Datuk Awang Aslee Laka
• N34 Lumadan – Datuk Mohd Nazri Abdullah
• N36 Kundasang – Japirin Sahadi
• N37 Karanaan – Nadzmin Kamin
• N38 Paginatan – Datuk Jemadi @ Junaidi Sahat
• N41 Liawan – Datuk Nik Mohd Nadzri Nik Zawawi
• N45 Sook – Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup
• N46 Nabawan – Laiji Ompongoh
• N47 Telupid – Benedict Asmat
• N48 Sugut – Mohammad Arifin Pachuk
• N49 Labuk – Yusuf Latif
• N51 Sungai Manila – Zaini Tiksun
• N52 Sungai Sibuga – Datuk Suhaimi Nasir
• N53 Sekong – Mohd Zharif Aizat Samsuddin
• N58 Lamag – Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin
• N59 Sukau – Datuk Jafry Ariffin
• N60 Tungku – Saleha Wahid
• N62 Silam – Sharif Musa Sharif Mabul
• N63 Kunak – Datuk Seri Anil Jeet Singh
• N66 Bugaya – Abdul Manan Indanan
• N67 Balung – Erwan Palateh
• N68 Apas – Dr Elmiariezan Ardan
• N71 Tanjung Batu – Samasuddin Yusop
• N73 Sebatik – Aslan Fadli Samsul Alang

— BERNAMA

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SANDAKAN — Seat allocation negotiations between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the 17th Sabah state election are in the final stage, with nearly 70 per cent concluded, said Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (picture).

He said several seats still need to be finalised between the two parties to reach a mutual agreement before an official announcement is made.

“There are still a few seats that need to be finalised between BN and PH. God willing, I will meet with the leaders on Nov 3 or 4 to resolve the matter,” he told reporters after attending the Sentuhan Kasih Desa@Libaran programme here today.

Commenting on the delay in finalising the seat distribution, Bung Moktar said it was due to both parties wanting to contest in certain areas.

He also confirmed that BN would be reducing the number of seats it contests.

Previously, he said Sabah BN intended to contest 48 seats in the upcoming state election.

Nomination for the state election is on Nov 15 and polling on Nov 29. — BERNAMA

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