SABAH POLLS: BN UNVEILS 41 CANDIDATES, MIX OF NEW FACES AND EXPERIENCED LEADERS

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