KOTA KINABALU, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- 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
In a press conference later, Bung Moktar said Sabah BN would announce another five to six seats, which he described as ‘special seats’, with the candidates being new faces and young individuals as part of the party’s strategy.
Bung Moktar said he was satisfied that Sabah BN was allocated 47 seats and assured that there would be no clashes between the coalition and Pakatan Harapan in the coming state election.
Commenting on Abdul Rahman’s nomination for the Tempasuk state seat, Bung Moktar explained that the former minister had an advantage as he had previously served as the Member of Parliament for Kota Belud.
In addition, Bung Moktar said Sabah BN had taken a bold step by fielding 85 per cent new candidates, including young professionals, to prove that the party was ready to make significant changes in development efforts to lift Sabah out of the cycle of poverty.
He said the move also reflected the party’s commitment to giving young leaders the opportunity to work alongside experienced figures, while ensuring BN remains aligned with the aspirations of the youth, as 65 per cent of voters in Sabah are young people.
“We are giving them the opportunity and platform to contest, and afterwards they can play their role as elected representatives (if elected) in policymaking for the state’s development,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
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