KIMANIS POLLS | Kimanis incumbent MP Anifah Aman's two sons have been withdrawn from Sabah Umno's list of candidate choices for the forthcoming Kimanis by-election.

This means Sabah Umno is left with four names on its candidate list for the by-election.

Anifah's aide Norhaidi Che Dan reportedly said that Anifah's two sons, Ahmad Firdaus and Ahmad Zachry were not interested in contesting the seat.

Free Malaysia Today reported Norhaidi as saying that Zachry, who is an ordinary Umno member, is not a politician while Firdaus, who is the Kimanis Umno Youth chief was "simply not interested".

The remaining candidate choices include former Bongawan assemblyperson Mohamad Alamin, who is also Kimanis Umno chief, Anifah's younger brother Ahmad Zachry Anifah, Universiti Malaysia Sabah lecturer Saat Ag Damit and former district officer Ahmad Gais.

Sabah Umno is expected to announce its candidate for the by-election on New Year's Day.

Anifah, who quit Umno in December 2018 and is now an independent, has declined to contest the seat.

However, he has said he would still support BN in the by-election.

There was speculation earlier that Anifah was considering contesting the Kimanis by-election under the Parti Bersatu Sabah ticket.

Anifah won the Kimanis seat by a slim majority of 156 votes in the 14th general election.

On Dec 2, the Federal Court upheld the Election Court's ruling to nullify Anifah's victory in the Kimanis parliamentary seat due to irregularities.

Anifah's lawyers have filed for a review on the decision as well as a stay for the by-election pending the review.