2020 Sabah state election

The 2020 Sabah state election took place on 26 September 2020^[1] to elect all 73 elected members of the 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly. The previous Assembly was dissolved on 30 July 2020.^[2]

2020 Sabah state election

← 2018 26 September 2020 (2020-09-26) 2025 →
← outgoing members elected members →
All 73 elected seats in the Legislative Assembly 37 seats needed for a majority
Registered	1,124,598
Turnout	66.61%
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Hajiji Noor Shafie Apdal Anifah Aman Party BERSATU Sabah WARISAN PCS Alliance GRS WARISAN+ Alliance with PKAN Leader since 12 September 2020 (2020-09-12) 17 October 2016 (2016-10-17) 26 July 2020 (2020-07-26) Leader's seat Sulaman Senallang Bongawan (lost seat) Last election 40.08%, 26 seats[a] 49.78%, 34 seats[b] 0 seats, 1.07% Seats before 0 Seats won 38 32 0 Seat change 12 2 Popular vote 316,112 317,991 29,118 Percentage 43.22% 43.42% 3.98% Swing 3.14 pp 6.36 pp 2.91 pp
Results by constituency
Chief Minister before election Shafie Apdal WARISAN Elected Chief Minister Hajiji Noor GRS Party

The state snap election was called prematurely after a political crisis arose. Both Shafie Apdal, incumbent Chief Minister and leader of Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition government and Musa Aman, leader of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition opposition claimed to have the majority to form the government. However, the Governor of Sabah, Juhar Mahiruddin decided to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly on the advice of Shafie.^[3]

The state election was conducted under the New Normal and special standard operating procedures (SOP) imposed by the Electoral Commission (EC) as the country is still observing the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) due to COVID-19 pandemic.^[4]

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition won the election with a simple majority of 38 seats. Hajiji Noor from BERSATU–PN was sworn in as Chief Minister 3 days later. The alliance of Perikatan Nasional with 17 seats, Barisan Nasional with 14 seats, and PBS with 7 seats made GRS the biggest electoral coalition in Sabah since September 2020.

This was the first Sabah state election not held on the same day as the Malaysia general election since 1999, when Sabah held its election on March that year as opposed to the general election date in November 1999.

Background

The 14th general election witnessed 29 seats from the government side and 31 seats from the non-government side filled the State Legislative Assembly. This count, however, did not include six seats from United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) and four from UMNO that switched allegiance from Musa to Shafie. The government side has 11 safe seats and four fairly safe seats, while the non-government side has two safe seats and fivefairly safe seats.

2018 Sabah state election

GOVERNMENT SEATS Marginal Melalap Peter Anthony WARISAN 46.81 Liawan Rasinin Kautis WARISAN 47.75 Banggi Mohamad Mohamarin WARISAN 47.79 Petagas Uda Sulai WARISAN 47.97 Kunak Norazlinah Arif WARISAN 48.20 Tungku Assaffal P. Alian WARISAN 49.89 Bongawan Dr. Daud Yusof WARISAN 50.62 Gum-Gum Arunarsin Taib WARISAN 51.10 Sindumin Dr. Yusof Yacob WARISAN 51.90 Merotai Sarifuddin Hata WARISAN 51.94 Tanjong Kapor Ben Chong Chen Bin WARISAN 54.31 Pantai Manis Aidi Moktar WARISAN 54.52 Karambunai Azhar Matussin WARISAN 54.66 Lahad Datu Dumi Pg. Masdal WARISAN 55.58 Fairly safe Tanjong Papat Frankie Poon Ming Fung DAP 56.20 Tanjong Aru Junz Wong Hong Jun WARISAN 56.23 Sekong Arifin Asgali WARISAN 56.55 Api-Api Christina Liew Chin Jin PKR 57.04 Safe Moyog Jenifer Lasimbang WARISAN 61.39 Inanam Kenny Chua Teck Ho PKR 62.33 Karamunting Hiew Vun Zin WARISAN 63.67 Elopura Calvin Chong Ket Kiun DAP 68.68 Kapayan Janie Lasimbang DAP 71.95 Sri Tanjong Jimmy Wong Sze Phin DAP 72.00 Sulabayan Jaujan Sambakong WARISAN 74.91 Senallang Mohd. Shafie Apdal WARISAN 75.97 Bugaya Manis Buka Mohd. Darah WARISAN 77.51 Likas Tan Lee Fatt DAP 82.57 Luyang Ginger Phoong Jin Zhe DAP 84.38 NON-GOVERNMENT SEATS Marginal Bingkor Robert Tawik @ Nordin STAR 33.19 Kundasang Joachim Gunsalam PBS 37.14 Matunggong Julita Majunki PBS 41.80 Kiulu Joniston Bangkuai PBS 42.39 Pitas Bolkiah Ismail UMNO 44.40 Klias Isnin Aliasnih UMNO 44.94 Tamparuli Jahid Jahim PBS 45.46 Sebatik Abd. Muis Picho UMNO 46.70 Tambunan Dr. Jeffrey Gapari @ Geoffrey Kitingan STAR 46.78 Balung Osman Jamal UMNO 47.08 Kadamaian Ewon Benedick UPKO 47.80 Paginatan Abidin Madingkir UPKO 48.84 Tempasuk Musbah Jamli UMNO 50.82 Tanjong Batu Hamisa Samat UMNO 50.92 Tandek Anita Baranting PBS 51.21 Usukan Japlin Akim UMNO 52.40 Kemabong Jamawi Ja’afar UMNO 52.68 Sook Ellron Alfred Angin PBRS 53.21 Apas Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan UMNO 53.58 Sungai Sibuga Musa Aman UMNO 53.59 Labuk Abd. Rahman Kongkawang PBS 53.64 Kuala Penyu Limus Jury UPKO 54.64 Kawang Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar UMNO 54.97 Sugut James Ratib UPKO 55.77 Fairly safe Lumadan Matbali Musah UMNO 56.65 Membakut Mohd. Arifin Mohd. Arif UMNO 57.22 Kuamut Masiung Banah UPKO 59.00 Sukau Saddi Abdu Rahman UMNO 59.14 Nabawan Bobbey Ah Fang Suan UPKO 59.52 Safe Karanaan Masidi Manjun UMNO 63.98 Sulaman Hajiji Mohd. Noor UMNO 69.62

Constituencies

13 new seats are added into the existing 60 state constituencies as a result of redelineation of Sabah state constituencies approved by the Dewan Rakyat on 17 July 2019.^[5] The new seats are Bengkoka, Bandau, Pintasan, Pantai Dalit, Darau, Tanjung Keramat, Limbahau, Tulid, Telupid, Sungai Manila, Lamag, Segama and Kukusan.

Electoral map of Sabah, showing all 73 constituencies

The 13 new seats for this election

2020 Sabah state election constituencies

Federal seat No. Constituency Electors (2020)[6][note 1] Area (km2)[7] Density District Last election assemblyperson Last election held party (GE14) Majority Current assemblyperson's represent party (2020 SE) P.167 Kudat N01 Banggi 5961 621 9.6 Kudat Mohamad Mohamarin WARISAN 379 WARISAN N02 Bengkoka 11543 1011 11.4 Pitas new seat N03 Pitas 10928 454 24.1 Pitas Bolkiah Ismail BN (UMNO) 1282 Uncontested N04 Tanjong Kapor 23700 214 110.7 Kudat Chong Chen Bin WARISAN 2992 WARISAN P.168 Kota Marudu N05 Matunggong 17111 534 32.0 Kudat Julita Majungki BN (PBS) 1687 PN+ (PBS) N06 Bandau 14615 756 19.3 Kota Marudu new seat N07 Tandek 15971 992 16.1 Kota Marudu Lasiah Baranting @ Anita BN (PBS) 4592 PN (STAR) (contesting as independent) P.169 Kota Belud N08 Pintasan 10867 300 36.2 Kota Belud new seat N09 Tempasuk 11996 159 75.4 Kota Belud Musbah Jamli BN (UMNO) 2264 IND N10 Usukan 16883 95 177.7 Kota Belud Japlin Akim BN (UMNO) 1225 Uncontested N11 Kadamaian 17968 818 22.0 Kota Belud Ewon Benedick BN (UPKO) 3294 WARISAN+ (UPKO) P.170 Tuaran N12 Sulaman 11711 113 103.6 Tuaran Hajiji Mohd. Noor BN (UMNO) 7774 PN (BERSATU) N13 Pantai Dalit 15091 48 314.4 Tuaran new seat N14 Tamparuli 16597 289 57.4 Tuaran Jahid Jahim BN (PBS) 2080 PN+ (PBS) N15 Kiulu 10887 676 16.1 Tuaran Joniston Bangkuai BN (PBS) 1443 PN+ (PBS) P.171 Sepanggar N16 Karambunai 19560 88 222.3 Kota Kinabalu Azhar Matussin WARISAN 5366 WARISAN (contested in Darau) N17 Darau 18350 14 1,310.7 Kota Kinabalu new seat N18 Inanam 26035 215 121.1 Kota Kinabalu Kenny Chua Teck Ho PH (PKR) 7783 PN (STAR) (contesting as independent) P. 172 Kota Kinabalu N19 Likas 14939 12 1,244.9 Kota Kinabalu Tan Lee Fatt PH (DAP) 7902 WARISAN+ (DAP) N20 Api-Api 19149 4 4,787.3 Kota Kinabalu Christina Liew PH (PKR) 2954 WARISAN+ (PKR) N21 Luyang 25775 10 2,577.5 Kota Kinabalu Phoong Jin Zhe PH (DAP) 12408 WARISAN+ (DAP) P.173 Putatan N22 Tanjong Aru 14941 30 498.0 Kota Kinabalu Junz Wong Hong Jun WARISAN 4610 WARISAN N23 Petagas 13763 15 917.5 Penampang (Putatan) Uda Sulai WARISAN 208 Uncontested N24 Tanjung Keramat 14350 13 1,103.8 Penampang (Putatan) new seat P.174 Penampang N25 Kapayan 30034 19 1,580.7 Penampang & Kota Kinabalu Jannie Lasimbang PH (DAP) 13250 WARISAN+ (DAP) N26 Moyog 19465 473 41.2 Penampang Jenifer Lasimbang WARISAN 4442 Uncontested P.175 Papar N27 Limbahau 12739 512 24.9 Papar new seat N28 Kawang 14932 55 271.5 Papar Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar BN (UMNO) 2862 PN (BERSATU) N29 Pantai Manis 14322 43 333.1 Papar Aidi Moktar WARISAN 2108 Uncontested P.176 Kimanis N30 Bongawan 16735 657 25.5 Beaufort & Papar Daud Yusof WARISAN 795 WARISAN N31 Membakut 13617 292 46.6 Beaufort Mohd. Arifin Mohd. Arif BN (UMNO) 2403 PN (BERSATU) P.177 Beaufort N32 Klias 16905 423 40.0 Beaufort Isnin Aliasnih BN (UMNO) 2336 PN (BERSATU) N33 Kuala Penyu 16396 448 36.6 Kuala Penyu Limus Jury BN (UPKO) 3545 PN (BERSATU) P.178 Sipitang N34 Lumadan 15044 1007 14.9 Beaufort Matbali Musah BN (UMNO) 2935 Uncontested N35 Sindumin 16762 2708 6.2 Sipitang Yusof Yakob WARISAN 760 WARISAN P.179 Ranau N36 Kundasang 14986 1836 8.2 Ranau Joachim Gunsalam BN (PBS) 255 PN+ (PBS) N37 Karanaan 13425 185 72.6 Ranau Masidi Manjun BN (UMNO) 3782 PN (BERSATU) N38 Paginatan 15410 1870 8.2 Ranau Abidin Madingkir BN (UPKO) 2066 PN (STAR) P.180 Keningau N39 Tambunan 16511 1414 11.7 Tambunan Jeffrey Kitingan GSB (STAR) 1037 PN (STAR) N40 Bingkor 17828 397 44.9 Keningau Robert Tawik @ Nordin GSB (STAR) 165 PN (STAR) N41 Liawan 17446 420 41.5 Keningau Rasinin Kautis WARISAN 1382 WARISAN P. 181 Tenom N42 Melalap 13993 638 21.9 Tenom Peter Anthony WARISAN 293 WARISAN N43 Kemabong 15086 1819 8.3 Tenom Jamawi Ja’afar BN (UMNO) 895 BN (UMNO) (contested in Melalap) P.182 Pensiangan N44 Tulid 8910 1250 7.1 Keningau new seat N45 Sook 10937 1533 7.1 Keningau Ellron Alfred Angin BN (PBRS) 4485 PN (STAR) N46 Nabawan 12475 6114 2.0 Nabawan Bobbey Ah Fang Suan BN (UPKO) 2072 Uncontested P.183 Beluran N47 Telupid 8952 1407 6.4 Telupid new seat N48 Sugut 7862 2197 3.6 Beluran James Ratib BN (UMNO) 1521 BN (UMNO) N49 Labuk 11712 3844 3.0 Beluran Abd. Rahman Kongkawang BN (PBS) 2600 IND P.184 Libaran N50 Gum-Gum 12474 777 16.1 Sandakan Arunarsin Taib WARISAN 598 WARISAN N51 Sungai Manila 12761 16 797.6 Sandakan new seat N52 Sungai Sibuga 23308 37 629.9 Sandakan Musa Aman BN (UMNO) 2184 Uncontested P.185 Batu Sapi N53 Sekong 17054 442 38.6 Sandakan Arifin Asgali WARISAN 2035 Uncontested N54 Karamunting 15896 12 1,324.7 Sandakan Hiew Vun Zin WARISAN 3848 WARISAN P.186 Sandakan N55 Elopura 25794 19 1,357.6 Sandakan Chong Ket Kiun PH (DAP) 6647 WARISAN+ (DAP) N56 Tanjong Papat 14287 4 3,571.8 Sandakan Poon Ming Fung PH (DAP) 1816 WARISAN+ (DAP) P.187 Kinabatangan N57 Kuamut 9854 10954 0.9 Tongod & Kinabatangan Masiung Banah BN (UPKO) 4121 IND N58 Lamag 8159 2142 3.8 Kinabatangan new seat N59 Sukau 10810 4972 2.2 Kinabatangan Saddi Abdul Rahman BN (UMNO) 1628 IND P.188 Lahad Datu N60 Tungku 13255 3297 4.0 Lahad Datu Assafal P. Alian WARISAN 1001 WARISAN N61 Segama 16575 1144 14.5 Lahad Datu new seat N62 Silam 17395 3049 5.7 Lahad Datu Dumi Masdal WARISAN 2932 WARISAN N63 Kunak 14641 1104 13.3 Kunak Norazlinah Arif WARISAN 268 WARISAN P.189 Semporna N64 Sulabayan 14012 234 59.9 Semporna Jaujan Sambakong WARISAN 4926 WARISAN N65 Senallang 14336 299 47.9 Semporna Shafie Apdal WARISAN 5301 WARISAN N66 Bugaya 20267 593 34.2 Semporna Manis Buka Mohd. Darah WARISAN 7851 WARISAN P.190 Tawau N67 Balung 14600 943 15.5 Tawau Osman Jamal BN (UMNO) 174 Uncontested N68 Apas 19378 370 52.4 Tawau Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan BN (UMNO) 1787 PN (BERSATU) N69 Sri Tanjong 26493 19 1,394.4 Tawau Wong Sze Phin PH (DAP) 9383 Uncontested P.191 Kalabakan N70 Kukusan 12640 8 1,580.0 Tawau new seat N71 Tanjong Batu 14875 11 1,352.3 Tawau Hamisa Samat BN (UMNO) 1986 Uncontested N72 Merotai 14973 902 16.6 Tawau & Kalabakan Sarifuddin Hata WARISAN 2150 WARISAN N73 Sebatik 10131 3630 2.8 Kalabakan Abd. Muis Picho BN (UMNO) 193 PN (BERSATU) Pink denotes constituencies that are more than 33% from mean value of Sabah electors, while light blue denotes lesser.

Departing incumbents

The following members of the 15th State Legislative Assembly did not participate in this election.

No.	State Constituency	Departing MLA	Party	Date confirmed	First elected	Reason
N03	Pitas	Bolkiah Ismail	IND	12 September 2020	2008	Not seeking re-election
N10	Usukan	Japlin Akim	PN (BERSATU)	10 September 2020	2018	No nomination by the party
N23	Petagas	Uda Sulai	WARISAN	10 September 2020[8]	2018	Not chosen by the party
N26	Moyog	Jennifer Lasimbang	WARISAN	10 September 2020[8]	2018	Not chosen by the party
N29	Pantai Manis	Aidi Moktar	WARISAN	10 September 2020[8]	2018	Not chosen by the party
N34	Lumadan	Matbali Musah	PN (BERSATU)	10 September 2020	2018	No nomination by the party
N46	Nabawan	Bobbey Ah Fang Suan	PN (BERSATU)	10 September 2020	2004	No nomination by the party
N52	Sungai Sibuga	Musa Aman	BN (UMNO)	10 September 2020	1994	No nomination by the party
N53	Sekong	Arifin Asgali	WARISAN	10 September 2020[8]	2018	Not chosen by the party
N67	Balung	Osman Jamal	IND	12 September 2020	2018	Not seeking re-election
N69	Sri Tanjong	Jimmy Wong Sze Phin	PH (DAP)	10 September 2020	2018	Not chosen by the party
N71	Tanjong Batu	Hamisa Samat	IND	12 September 2020	2008	Not seeking re-election

Opinion polls

The following table shows recent opinion polling from last two weeks.

Institute	Date	Warisan Plus (WARISAN)	Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)	Other
SEEDS Sabah[9]	25 September 2020	40.7%	43.4%	15.9%
Sabah state election, 2018	9 May 2018	45.93%	46.13%	7.94%

Results

For complete results, see Results of the 2020 Sabah state election.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government (41)					Warisan-led opposition (32)*
17		7	14	3		8		23
Perikatan Nasional		PBS	Barisan Nasional	Other		Pakatan Harapan		WARISAN
11	6	7	14	3			6	23
BERSATU	STAR	PBS	UMNO				DAP	WARISAN
Sabah State Legislative Assembly, 26 September 2020 (73 seats)

Summary

Party or alliance				Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Gabungan Rakyat Sabah		United Malays National Organisation	122,358	16.73	14	–3
			Malaysian United Indigenous Party	86,383	11.81	11	+11
			United Sabah Party	49,941	6.83	7	+1
			Homeland Solidarity Party	35,586	4.87	6	+4
			Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah	9,687	1.32	0	–1
			Malaysian Chinese Association	8,948	1.22	0	0
			Sabah Progressive Party	3,146	0.43	0	0
		Total		316,049	43.22	38	+7
	Warisan Plus		Sabah Heritage Party	186,749	25.54	23	+2
			Democratic Action Party	69,477	9.50	6	0
			People's Justice Party	28,372	3.88	2	0
			United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation	29,473	4.03	1	–5
			National Trust Party	3,470	0.47	0	0
		Total		317,541	43.42	32	+3
	Love Sabah Party			29,118	3.98	0	0
	Liberal Democratic Party			12,447	1.70	0	0
	United Sabah National Organisation (New)			8,815	1.21	0	0
	Sabah People's Hope Party			4,415	0.60	0	0
	Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah			3,747	0.51	0	0
	Sabah People's Unity Party			2,160	0.30	0	0
	Sabah Native Co-operation Party			604	0.08	0	0
	Sabah Nationality Party			24	0.00	0	0
	Independents			36,411	4.98	3	+3
Total				731,331	100.00	73	+13
Valid votes				731,331	97.63
Invalid/blank votes				17,752	2.37
Total votes				749,083	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				1,124,598	66.61
Source: Election Commission of Malaysia[10]

Seats that changed allegiance

No.	Seat	Previous Party (2018)		Current Party (2020)
N02	Bengkoka	new seat			BN (UMNO)
N03	Pitas		BN (UMNO)		Independent
N05	Matunggong		BN (PBS)		PBS
N06	Bandau	new seat			PN (BERSATU)
N07	Tandek		BN (PBS)		PBS
N08	Pintasan	new seat			PN (BERSATU)
N11	Kadamaian		BN (UPKO)		UPKO
N12	Sulaman		BN (UMNO)		PN (BERSATU)
N13	Pantai Dalit	new seat			BN (UMNO)
N14	Tamparuli		BN (PBS)		PBS
N15	Kiulu		BN (PBS)		PBS
N16	Karambunai		WARISAN		BN (UMNO)
N17	Darau	new seat			WARISAN
N24	Tanjung Keramat	new seat			BN (UMNO)
N27	Limbahau	new seat			WARISAN
N28	Kawang		BN (UMNO)		PN (BERSATU)
N29	Pantai Manis		WARISAN		BN (UMNO)
N31	Membakut		BN (UMNO)		PN (BERSATU)
N32	Klias		BN (UMNO)		PN (BERSATU)
N33	Kuala Penyu		BN (UPKO)		PN (BERSATU)
N34	Lumadan		BN (UMNO)		PBS
N36	Kundasang		BN (PBS)		PBS
N37	Karanaan		BN (UMNO)		PN (BERSATU)
N38	Paginatan		BN (UPKO)		PN (STAR)
N39	Tambunan		STAR		PN (STAR)
N40	Bingkor		STAR		PN (STAR)
N41	Liawan		WARISAN		PN (STAR)
N43	Kemabong		BN (UMNO)		Independent
N44	Tulid	new seat			PN (STAR)
N45	Sook		BN (PBRS)		PN (STAR)
N46	Nabawan		BN (UPKO)		PN (BERSATU)
N47	Telupid	new seat			PBS
N49	Labuk		BN (PBS)		PN (BERSATU)
N51	Sungai Manila	new seat			BN (UMNO)
N57	Kuamut		BN (UPKO)		Independent
N58	Lamag	new seat			BN (UMNO)
N61	Segama	new seat			WARISAN
N68	Apas		BN (UMNO)		PN (BERSATU)
N70	Kukusan	new seat			WARISAN
N73	Sebatik		BN (UMNO)		WARISAN

Election pendulum

The 14th general election witnessed 29 seats from the government side and 31 seats from the non-government side filled the State Legislative Assembly. This count, however, did not include 6 seats from United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) and 4 from United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) that switched allegiance from Musa to Shafie. The government side has 11 safe seats and 4 fairly safe seats, while the non-government side has 2 safe seats and 5 fairly safe seats.^{[citation needed]}

GOVERNMENT SEATS
Marginal
Bengkoka	Harun Durabi	UMNO	31.98
Pintasan	Fairuz Renddan	BERSATU	33.31
Kundasang	Dr. Joachim Gunsalam	PBS	43.35
Tulid	Flovia Ng	STAR	33.45
Lumadan	Ruslan Muharam	PBS	34.55
Paginatan	Abidin Madingkir	STAR	35.65
Tandek	Hendrus Anding	PBS	36.87
Kemabong	Rubin Balang	IND	38.48
Matunggong	Julita Majungki	PBS	39.09
Kuamut	Masiung Banah	IND	39.11
Liawan	Annuar Ayub Aman	STAR	39.12
Pitas	Ruddy Awah	IND	40.14
Telupid	Johnnybone J. Kurum	PBS	42.29
Karambunai	Yakubah Khan	UMNO	42.86
Balung	Hamid Awang	UMNO	44.51
Tempasuk	Mohd. Arsad Bistari	UMNO	45.35
Labuk	Samad Jambri	BERSATU	46.11
Sook	Ellron Alfred Angin	STAR	46.71
Pantai Manis	Tamin @ Mohd. Tamin Zainal	UMNO	49.56
Kuala Penyu	Limus Jury	BERSATU	49.56
Tanjung Keramat	Shahelmey Yahya	UMNO	51.75
Kiulu	Joniston Lumai @ Bangkuai	PBS	51.93
Sungai Sibuga	Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supian	UMNO	52.70
Lamag	Bung Moktar Radin	UMNO	54.06
Sungai Manila	Mokran Ingkat	UMNO	55.61
Sukau	Jafry Ariffin	UMNO	55.67
Nabawan	Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin	BERSATU	55.94
Fairly safe
Sugut	James Ratib	UMNO	57.88
Apas	Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan	BERSATU	58.30
Tamparuli	Jahid Jahim	PBS	59.26
Klias	Isnin Aliasnih	BERSATU	59.90
Safe
Bandau	Mohd. Fikri Bahanda	BERSATU	60.41
Membakut	Mohd. Arifin Mohd. Arif	BERSATU	60.70
Tanjung Batu	Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy	UMNO	62.08
Pantai Dalit	Jasnih Daya	UMNO	62.73
Usukan	Salleh Said Keruak	UMNO	65.28
Sulaman	Hajiji Mohd. Noor	BERSATU	65.83
Bingkor	Robert Tawik @ Nordin	STAR	67.04
Kawang	Ghulamhaidar Khan Bahadar	BERSATU	71.24
Karanaan	Masidi Manjun	BERSATU	73.70
Tambunan	Dr. Jeffrey G. Kitingan	STAR	75.21

NON-GOVERNMENT SEATS
Marginal
Gum-Gum	Arunarsin Taib	WARISAN	39.21
Bongawan	Daud Yusof	WARISAN	42.26
Kukusan	Rina Jainal	WARISAN	42.53
Sebatik	Hassan A. Gani Pg. Amir	WARISAN	44.58
Petagas	Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari	WARISAN	45.49
Banggi	Mohammad Mohamarin	WARISAN	45.89
Merotai	Sarifuddin Hata	WARISAN	47.83
Kunak	Norazlinah Arif	WARISAN	48.65
Darau	Azhar Matussin	WARISAN	48.67
Sindumin	Dr. Yusof Yacob	WARISAN	48.96
Tungku	Assaffal P. Alian	WARISAN	49.15
Tanjong Kapor	Ben Chong Chen Bin	WARISAN	49.84
Melalap	Peter Anthony	WARISAN	50.18
Inanam	Peto Galim	PKR	50.92
Kadamaian	Ewon Benedick	UPKO	51.07
Segama	Mohamaddin Ketapi	WARISAN	52.41
Sekong	Alias Sani	WARISAN	55.07
Silam	Dumi Pg. Masdal	WARISAN	55.40
Fairly safe
Limbahau	Juil Nuatim	WARISAN	57.12
Karamunting	George Hiew Vun Zin	WARISAN	58.76
Safe
Tanjong Aru	Junz Wong Hong Jun	WARISAN	60.34
Moyog	Ignatius Darell Leiking	WARISAN	62.83
Api-Api	Christina Liew Chin Jin	PKR	67.80
Tanjong Papat	Frankie Poon Ming Fung	DAP	68.00
Sulabayan	Jaujan Sambakong	WARISAN	69.04
Elopura	Calvin Chong Ket Kiun	DAP	73.61
Bugaya	Manis Muka Mohd. Darah	WARISAN	74.44
Sri Tanjong	Justin Wong Yung Bin	DAP	76.58
Senallang	Mohd. Shafie Apdal	WARISAN	77.16
Kapayan	Jannie Lasimbang	DAP	77.40
Likas	Tan Lee Fatt	DAP	86.33
Luyang	Phoong Jin Zhe	DAP	90.56

Aftermath

Main article: 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly

The GRS governing coalition formed in September 2020 after the victory consists of

• United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (14) :Barisan National Party seat – Won 14 seats
• Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) (11), Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR) (6) : Perikatan Nasional – Won 17 seats
• With support from United Sabah Party (PBS) (7).

Warisan saw a gain of 2 more seats from its previous 21 seats in the 2018 election. While its ally PKR and DAP retained their number of seats with 2 and 6 respectively. Warisan also made history by becoming the first and only single party in Sabah to not govern the state despite winning the most seats overall.^{[citation needed]}

On the other side, STAR, led by Jeffrey Kitingan won 6 seats compared to 2 in the previous election, with most of the seats won hailing from the interior of Sabah which is dominated by the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) community. UPKO, even though representing the KDM community, managed only 1 seat in this election, a loss from 6 seats in the previous election.^{[citation needed]}

PPBM or Bersatu, despite being a Malay-based party from West Malaysia and contesting in Sabah for the first time, won 11 seats.^{[citation needed]}

The elected assemblywoman for Bugaya, Manis Muka Mohd Darah from WARISAN later passed away in November 2020, triggering a by-election which was not held until November 2022, concurrently with the 2022 Malaysian general election. A few elected assemblymen also changed parties after the election; see List of seats that changed allegiance in Sabah after state election 2020.

COVID-19 pandemic

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Sabah

Following the Sabah state government's announcement on 9 August that the state election would be held on 26 September, several members of the public and democracy observers urged local authorities to consider postal voting due to the ongoing pandemic and in order to reduce virus transmissions during the election.^[11][12] On 21 August, the High Court dismissed an appeal by 33 Sabah assemblymen against Governor Juhar Mahiruddin's consent for the dissolution of Sabah's legislative assembly, allowing the state election to go ahead.^[13][14] On 11 September, the Federal Court dismissed Datuk Jahid Noordin Jahim's appeal to stop the election, allowing nominations to proceed the following day.^[15]

The return of voters and politicians from Sabah to Peninsular Malaysia has caused a significant influx of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Daily reported cases increased to three digit numbers. Several of these ministers and politicians had reportedly not complied with standard procedures around COVID-19.^[16][17][18] On 14 October, the Federal Government announced the implementation of a Conditional Movement Control Order in Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur due to the rising number of cases.^[19][20]

Effects of the 2022 general election

Main article: 2022 Malaysian general election

Following the results of the Malaysian general election in November 2022, and the formation of government consisting of the alliance between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, GRS announced their inclusion into the alliance (despite GRS members Bersatu, SAPP and STAR aligning with Perikatan Nasional at the time), and signed a cooperation agreement with other parties involved on 16 December 2022.^[21] On 10 December 2022, MLAs and MPs from Bersatu Sabah announced they will quit the party and become direct member of GRS, in line of the coalition at federal level.^[22][23] On 17 December 2022, GRS officially expelled Bersatu from the coalition.^[24] STAR, another member party of both GRS and PN, announced its exit from PN on 5 December 2022.^[25] SAPP is the only member party of both GRS and PN as of December 2022,^[26] however the party leader Yong Teck Lee announced its exit from PN in December 2024.^[27]

Aside from the change above, the status quo is not changed for the government in Sabah. Even though PH and WARISAN is allied with GRS at federal level, they are still opposition to the GRS-led administration at state level.^[28]

2023 political crisis

This section is an excerpt from 2023 Sabah political crisis.[edit]

The 2023 Sabah political crisis or widely reported on local media as Langkah Kinabalu or the Kinabalu Move, began on 6 January 2023, when the state government of Sabah led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) collapsed when its coalition party Barisan Nasional (BN) withdrew its support.^[29] The Leader of UMNO Sabah, a component party of BN, Bung Moktar Radin, Kinabatangan Member of Parliament (MP) and Lamag Assemblyman, cited a lack of confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister of Sabah Hajiji Noor in the withdrawal. UMNO Sabah want to change support from supporting GRS coalition to supporting the WARISAN Plus coalition.^[30] On 9 January, both Malaysian leaders, prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi travelled to Kota Kinabalu to meet with Sabah political leaders.^[31] This crisis resulted in the approval of the Anti-Switching Parties Law in Sabah (approved in 25 May 2023).^[32]

As of 6 February, there have been no changes in the status quo regarding the government of Sabah, following the decision of 5 UMNO MLAs who publicly supported Hajiji despite Bung's decision, and a reshuffle of the state cabinet on 11 January as a result.^[33] As of 25 May 2023, Sabah State Legislative Assembly finally approved the Anti-Switching Parties Law (Anti-frogs habit).^[34]

See also

• Politics of Malaysia
• List of political parties in Malaysia

Notes

1. Combined result of Barisan Nasional (excluding UPKO, which left BN and allied with Warisan between elections; Gerakan, which did not contest the election; and LDP, which also left BN and contested independently; 24 seats, 34.92%), STAR (2 seats, 4.59%) and SAPP (0 seats, 0.57%) in the last election. This was Bersatu's first election in Sabah.
2. Combined result of Warisan (21 seats, 31.30%), Pakatan Harapan (8 seats, 14.63%) and UPKO (5 seats, 3.85%) in the last election. UPKO left BN and allied with Warisan in between elections.

References

1. "Shafie: Fresh polls within 60 days, voters can decide between Musa and me". Malaysiakini. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
2. Sabah e-Gazette
3. "Snap polls called for Sabah as Shafie dissolves state assembly". Malay Mail. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
4. "Sabah to face snap polls within 60 days after state assembly is dissolved". The Straits Times. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
5. "Sabah dapat 13 kerusi tambahan DUN". Borneo Today (in Malay). 17 July 2019.
6. Pilihan Raya Umun Dun Sabah Ke-16(Pru Dun Sabah Ke-16) (Report) (in Malay). Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya Malaysia. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
7. Laporan Kajian Semula Persempadanan Mengenai Syor-Syor Yang Dicadangkan bagi Bahagian-Bahagian Pilihan Raya Persekutuan dan Negeri Di Dalam Negeri Sabah Kali Keenam Tahun 2017 (PDF) (Report) (in Malay). Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya Malaysia. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
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24. Olivia Miwil (17 December 2022). "GRS dumps Bersatu". nst.com.my. New Straits Times. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
25. Stephanie Lee (5 December 2022). "Sabah STAR quits Perikatan". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 29 December 2022.
26. FMT Reporters (26 November 2022). "SAPP sticks with PN, endorses support for unity govt". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
27. Bernama (14 December 2024). "SAPP quits Perikatan Nasional, Yong announces". thesun.my. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
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