ABDUL RAHMAN DAHLAN WITHDRAWS AS BN CANDIDATE FOR TEMPASUK SEAT

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Sabah UMNO deputy chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan has withdrawn as Barisan Nasional's  (BN) candidate for the Tempasuk seat in the upcoming state election.  

Abdul Rahman said he had informed BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also UMNO president, of his decision and expressed his wish to make way for a new and local face from Kota Belud to represent the party in the constituency.  

“I have contested three times in the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency (2013, 2018 and 2022), winning twice and losing once. In all three contests, UMNO consistently won the votes in the Tempasuk state constituency even when we lost the parliamentary seat.  

“I believe local leaders from Kota Belud UMNO will be able to shoulder this responsibility excellently. As a party member, I will continue to support UMNO in other capacities,” he said in a statement tonight.  

Abdul Rahman, who is also a former Minister of Housing and Local Government, expressed his gratitude to  Ahmad Zahid and the party for nominating him to contest in Tempasuk.  

“I would also like to thank all UMNO members and supporters in the Tempasuk state constituency for their support over the years,” he said.  

The Election Commission has set Nov 29 as polling day for the 17th Sabah state election, with nomination day on Nov 15 and early voting on Nov 25.  

In the previous state election, the Tempasuk seat was won by Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari, who then represented BN, with a majority of 1,685 votes. For the upcoming election, he has been named as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's (GRS) candidate for the same seat.

-- BERNAMA