After much wrangling and negotiations, opposition parties in Sabah have only managed to stay out of each others' way in a handful of seats in the Borneo state.

Barring Independent candidates, Sabah will see straight fights between Pakatan Rakyat and BN in just one parliamentary seat and three state assembly seats.

NONE Sabah has 25 parliamentary seats while the state assembly has 60 seats.

This follows announcements by local parties SAPP and Star that it will stay out of these states and parliamentary constituencies.

Among those facing a concerted challenge by the opposition are LDP president VK Liew ( above ) in Sandakan and Sabah Umno chief Musa Aman in Sungai Sibuga.

Liew, despite feeling confident, is likely to be hanging on by his fingernails, having won in 2008 by a majority of only 176, despite the opposition votes split between PKR and DAP.

Musa, who is also caretaker chief minister, however, is in a more comfortable position, having triumphed with a formidable 7,657 votes ahead of now Sabah PKR chief Thamrin Jaini who garnered less than half of that.

The following are the seats where straight fights are expected:

Parliament:

State assembly:

  • Merotai : Pang Yuk Ming (BN) vs Ahmad Dollah (PAS)

Four party-clash in 20 seats

Meanwhile, Pakatan, Star, SAPP and BN will clash in six parliamentary seats and 26 state seats.

This includes Kota Marudu , contested by PBS deputy president and caretaker federal minister Maximus Ongkili.

He garnered 54 percent of the votes in 2008, ahead of PKR's Anthony Mandiau and an Independent candidate.

NONE In 2008, the opposition received more votes compared to the BN in eight seats - Sandakan, Luyang , Likas , Bingkor , Inanam , Kapayan , Kuala Penyu and Merotai.

However, these seats went to BN due to multi-cornered fights among the many players in Sabah's crowded political scene.

Star's Jeffrey Kitingan dismissed suggestions that the decision to contest 55 state seats and 21 parliamentary seats (with its ally Usno) will hand easy victory to the BN.

"Other parties are merely participating, but we are serious in reducing the BN government's hold. We are sure of this with each development," he told reporters after launching the party's manifesto at Ming Garden Hotel.

"Don't be obsessed with one -to-one (fights). It is only a concept. People will concentrate on the party they feel can win.”

Sabah DAP equally 'Sabahan'

Meanwhile, faced with a barrage of onslaughts from the SAPP, DAP today said that their fight is not with the local parties.

dap sabah chief jimmy wong Stressing that the Sabah DAP chapter, established in 1978, is equally Sabahan as SAPP and Star, it said that what it is offering is a more holistic approach in fulfilling the Borneo agenda.

Sabah DAP chief Jimmy Wong ( left ) said that history has shown that Sabah-based parties had not stood  up to federal powers.

As such, he said it is best to take a different approach by voting in a federal government which will treat Sabah better.

"We are saying that to save Sabah, you have to save Malaysia," he told reporters at the party headquarters at Kota Kinabalu.

Related stories

PBS in-fighting may see branches close shop

PAS candidate's house attacked in Tawau

Free PRU13 app - GE updates at your fingertips