LIVE | Malaysiakini brings you updates on the Sabah state election nomination.

Follow our coverage of the Sabah state election here.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Shafie Apdal to face four opponents in Senallang
  • Governor's sister takes the fight to Musa Aman's stronghold
  • DAP sacks member for contesting under LDP
  • Nephew seeks to topple Bersatu chief 'uncle' in his Sulaman stronghold
  • Ex-ministers Salleh Keruak, Anifah to contest in Usukan and Bongawan
  • Musa Aman no-show at Sungai Manila
  • EC bars non-official media from nomination centres
  • PKR defector in Sabah coup to re-contest as independent
  • PM: Opposition to form 'Gabungan Rakyat Sabah' gov't if it wins
  • 'Friendly fire' - PBS candidate expected to face Umno challenger

Nomination ends, campaign officially begins

1.30pm : This concludes Malaysiakini's live coverage of the nomination process for Sabah election.

Malaysiakini is committed to bringing you the latest news on the Sabah election as campaigning officially begins.

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Our journalists on the ground will bring you updates and analysis of the campaign. Check them out here.

Sabahans will decide their new government on Sept 26.

Shafie Apdal to face four opponents in Senallang

12.50pm: Semporna Community Hall, Semporna - Incumbent Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal will face four opponents in the state seat of Senallang.

The Warisan president and incumbent assemblyperson will face PN's Norazman Utoh Naim who is from Bersatu, PCS' Madjalis Lais, PPRS' Datu Pengiran Ahmad Dau Ali Alam and Usno's Mohd Ramzan Abdul Wahab.

The nomination process for the state seats of Sulabayan and Bugaya were also done at the same centre.

All three are state seats under the Semporna parliamentary constituency.

Sulabayan will see a three-cornered fight between Warisan's Jaujan Sambakong, BN-Umno's Abdul Manan Indanan and PCS' Alahuddin Mohd Sarah. Jaujan is the incumbent in the seat.

Meanwhile, Bugaya will witness a seven-way tussle between Warisan's Manis Buka Mohd Darah, PN-Bersatu's Daud Tampakong, PCS' Jihek Basanu, Usno's Ahmad Kenajaan, PPRS' Taraji Jamdi and independent candidates Abdul Jan Muammin and Abdul Jim Rasidan Abd Latiff.

Governor's sister takes the fight to Musa Aman's stronghold

12.40pm: Dewan Serbaguna Libaran, Libaran - Warisan's candidate for N52 Sungai Sibuga, Armani Mahiruddin, is prepared to do battle in the stronghold of former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman, who held the seat since 1994.

Armani, 54, will be banking on her experiences as a former Sabah Wanita Umno chief, former Sungai Sibuga Wanita Umno member and leader for 22 years as well as being the first woman to be elected as Dewan Negara deputy speaker.

"Even though Sungai Sibuga was held by our former chief minister, there are still a lot of things that can be changed, particularly in the development of the area," she tells reporters.

"I am ready (to be compared to Musa) and if I'm given a chance to win, I will make the changes.

"We can see that his influence, as a former leader, has passed. But we still respect him as a former leader," adds Armani, who is also the younger sister to Sabah governor Juhar Mahiruddin.

Armani joined Warisan along with over 200 Sandakan Umno members in May last year, several weeks after Warisan president Shafie Apdal was sworn-in as chief minister.

Photo: Armani Mahiruddin

DAP sacks member for contesting under LDP

12.35pm: The DAP disciplinary committee sacks Julius Favianus, who is attached to the Liawan DAP branch in Sabah.

This is after he was announced as a LDP candidate in the state seat of Bingkor.

He is contesting against DAP's own candidate Odom @ Peter Dhoms Saili @ Soili.

"The party and its coalition, Warisan Plus, have decided that Bingkor is to be contested by the DAP candidate using the Warisan banner.

"Any party member standing as a candidate against the agreement reached by the Warisan Plus coalition partners is an act of insubordination and indiscipline.

"It is also an act of betrayal of the people's wish to retain the Warisan Plus government," DAP disciplinary committee chairperson Chong Chieng Jen says in a statement.

The incumbent in Bingkor is STAR's Robert Tawik @ Nordin, who is defending the seat.

Nephew seeks to topple Bersatu chief 'uncle' in his Sulaman stronghold

12.30pm: Dewan Seri Sulaman, Tuaran - Sabah Bersatu chief Hajiji Mohd Noor will face two of his relatives in his bid to retain the Sulaman seat.

His opponents are Rekan Hussien of PCS and Aliasgar Basri from Warisan.

Aliasgar tells the media that Hajiji is his uncle from his mother's side while Rekan is also a distant relative.

"He is (my) uncle but politics is different," he adds after the nomination process.

Photo:  Aliasgar Basir

He cites the incident where Warisan's Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis defeated her uncle Salleh Said Keruak in the Kota Belud parliamentary seat during the 2018 general election.

Asked about his chances since Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has proposed Hajiji as the chief minister if the opposition alliance wins, he replies that Sabah Umno Chief Bung Moktar Radin may be eyeing the post as well.

"They are not united. In Warisan, we have only one chief minister candidate," he adds.

Photo: Rekan Hussien

Meanwhile, Rekan believes his party is the better choice for Sabahans as it advocates that the state be developed equally for all ethnic groups.

Meanwhile, Hajiji hopes he can win in Sulaman to help the people and bring development for them.

"We, in PN and BN assure that we will continue to protect the people of Sabah," adds the seven-term assemblyperson, who previously contested as a BN candidate.

Photo: Hajiji Mohd Noor

Ex-ministers Salleh Keruak, Anifah to contest in Usukan and Bongawan

12.20pm: Former Communications and Multimedia minister Salleh Said Keruak has been confirmed as a candidate in Usukan, according to the Election Commission.

He is contesting under the BN logo against Warisan's Abdul Bahkrin Mohd Yusof and Parti Cinta Sabah Datu Mohd Nazaruddin Datu Tiga Belas in a three-cornered fight.

Umno-BN is the incumbent in Usukan. Interestingly, Salleh's rival Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who had attacked Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin's leadership in the election, is not fielded.

Read more: 'Suicide' for Bung to lead Sabah Umno campaign - Rahman Dahlan

Meanwhile, former foreign minister Anifah Aman is confirmed as a candidate in Bongawan.

However, he is not part of a major coalition and is contesting under Parti Cinta Sabah, which he is now leading after quitting Umno.

He will face BN's AG Syairin, Warisan's Daud Yusof and LDP's Mohd Azree Abd Ghani.

Daud was the incumbent in Bongawan.

Sabah PKR chief 'surprised' to face eight opponents for Api-api seat

11.50am: Wisma Wanita, Kota Kinabalu - Api-api will officially witness a nine-way tussle.

The list of candidates is as follows:

  1. PPRS - Lo Yau Foh
  2. PGRS - Chong Tze Kiun
  3. Independent - Marcel Jude
  4. LDP - Chin Su Phing
  5. PCS - Pang Yuk Min
  6. PBS - Yee Moh Chai
  7. Independent - Ng Chun Sua
  8. PKR - Christina Liew Chin Jin
  9. Independent - Sim Sie Hong

Incumbent Liew says she is “very surprised” with the number of candidates vying for the seat.

“It shows that people are keen on becoming a Yang Berhormat (honorific title for elected representatives) now,” she quips.

Outside the nomination centre, PKR leaders including advisor Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Sim Tze Tzin, Noor Amin Ahmad and a group of 20 supporters chanted "Reformasi".

Commenting on the nine-way tussle, Wan Azizah says PKR has faced numerous multi-cornered electoral battles in the past.

“Most importantly, we want our candidate to win,” she adds.

Six-way tussles in Gum Gum and Sg Manila, 5 vie for Sungai Sibuga

11.15am: Dewan Serbaguna Libaran, Libaran - The returning officers for N50 Gum Gum, N51 Sungai Manila and N52 Sungai Sibuga announces the candidates contesting in the respective constituencies.

Gum-Gum and Sungai Manila will witness a six-way tussle whereas five candidates will vie for the Sungai Sibuga seat.

BN, Warisan, Parti Cinta Sabah, LDP and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah are fielding their candidates in all three seats.

The additional sixth contender in Gum-Gum is independent candidate Yunus Nordin while retired civil servant K Zulkipli @ K Zulkipli Harrith is standing in Sungai Manila for Sabah-based Usno.

Zulkipli earlier told reporters he aims to revive Usno, one of Sabah's oldest political parties, now led by former Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

Confirmed – Tanjung Aru to witness 'battle of eight'

10.55am: Dewan Jabatan Kerja Raya Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu - Tanjung Aru will officially see an eight-cornered tussle.

The returning officer announces the eight candidates, including incumbent Junz Wong from Warisan, as well as their number sequence on the ballot.

The candidates, as well as their numbers on the ballot, are as follows:

  1. Yong Oui Fah - PBS
  2. Jan Chow - Independent
  3. Ibrahim Mohd Laiman Diki - LDP
  4. Shafik Risaib Shah - Usno
  5. Noran Addy Sukiran - PCS
  6. Rizawani Fiona Heng - PGRS
  7. Junz Wong - Warisan
  8. Mohd Reduan Aklee - BN

Musa absent from nomination but airs grievances on social media

10.50am: Former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman was absent during the nomination process for the Sabah election but is making himself heard on social media.

Taking to Instagram, Musa shared a Malaysiakini article of Umno branch leaders within the Libaran division criticising the party's decision not to field him in Sungai Manila.

The post was made during the nomination period which started at 9am and ended at 10am.

The returning officers are presently finalising the candidates. The candidates will be announced soon after drawing numbers.

 

Read more: Umno branches demand for Musa, Bung says all is well in Libaran

Nomination closes

10am: The nomination process for all 73 state seats in Sabah closes.

The returning officers are now going through the nomination papers.

They are expected to announce the official candidates soon.

Musa Aman fails to turn up at Sg Manila nomination centre

10am: Dewan Serbaguna Libaran, Libaran - There was no sight of former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman despite initial speculations that he will contest as an independent candidate in N51 Sungai Manila.

As nomination closed for the Sabah state polls, Musa did not turn up to file his papers. His residence is just a stone's throw away from the centre.

The former Sungai Sibuga assemblyperson ignited speculations over his next political move when he tweeted earlier this week, "I am going back to Sungai Manila."

At present, Musa remains an Umno member although his allegiance is unclear after a fallout with Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin.

Sungai Manila is a new seat carved out of Sungai Sibuga. Majority of his supporters were moved to Sungai Manila in the redelineation exercise.

Read more:

Absent from BN and PN list, Musa's fate a mystery

Twice thwarted, Musa needs a home for a third crack at CM

Warisan deputy gets backing from dropped incumbent

9.55am: Pusat Kebudayaan Sabah, Penampang - Incumbent Moyog assemblyperson Jenifer Lasimbang who was dropped by Warisan as a candidate does not appear to harbour any resentment.

Instead, she is acting as the proposer for her successor candidate - Warisan deputy president Darrell Leiking.

Darrell's seconder is Terence Siambun, who is also a former Moyog assemblyperson.

Jenifer served as the Moyog assemblyperson from 2018 to 2020 under a Warisan ticket while Terence served as the Moyog assemblyperson from 2013 to 2018 under a PKR ticket.

Read more: Five Warisan incumbents dropped to make way for fresh candidates

EC bars non-official media from nomination centres

9.45am: The Election Commission bars non-official media from all nomination centres in Sabah.

In a note to the media, the EC says this is a measure with regard to Covid-19.

"Media other than official government media (RTM, Bernama, Information Department and Finas) are not allowed into the nomination centres for all 73 state seats.

"The media's cooperation is much appreciated," reads the note.

Read more: EC's move for nomination process undemocratic – Fahmi

PKR defector in Sabah coup to re-contest as independent

9.30am: Dewan Masyarakat Manggatal - Kenny Chua, the incumbent Inanam assemblyperson who defected from PKR to support to a coup against the Warisan-led state government, makes an appearance.

Chua, who was not fielded by either PN, BN or PBS despite supporting the coup against Warisan, is expected to re-contest the seat as an independent.

Chua says he was initially supposed to contest under PBS but the plan did not materialise.

The coup was masterminded by former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman but was foiled after Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal secured a dissolution of the state assembly, paving the way for fresh polls.

Read more: For some, it doesn't pay to be a 'katak'

Concerned about Covid-19, cops tell supporters to move

9.15am: Dewan Serbaguna Libaran, Libaran - Sandakan district police chief Mohd Azhar Yakin orders a small crowd of around 20 supporters of various candidates in N50 Gum Gum, N51 Sg Manila and N52 Sungai Sibuga to move away from their gathering place opposite the nomination centre.

"We are just worried since Tawau is already a red zone," he says.

The supporters oblige and one of them quips that the bigger group of media personnel must also adhere to the same instruction.

Azhar reminds the media to observe physical distancing and to keep their masks on, reiterating that only those with Election Commission assigned passes can stay in the area.

Warisan's Junz Wong versus seven contenders

9.15am: Dewan Jabatan Kerja Raya Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu - Warisan candidate and incumbent Junz Wong as well as Umno candidate Mohd Reduan Aklee arrive at the nomination centre.

Photo: Junz Wong

This means that the Tanjung Aru seat will see at least an eight-way tussle.

Photo: Mohd Reduan Aklee

This includes a clash between Umno and PBS, which is friendly to Perikatan Nasional (PN) and BN.

Around 11 other seats are expected to see clashes between PN, BN or PBS.

As the nomination period is open from 9am to 10am, there is still time for more candidates to arrive.

PM: Opposition to form 'Gabungan Rakyat Sabah' gov't if it wins

9.10am: Tuaran Town - Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announces that the parties comprising BN, PN and PBS will form a "Gabungan Rakyat Sabah" ruling coalition if it wins the government.

He says this after arriving to show his support for Bersatu Sabah chief Hajiji Noor, who is contesting in the Sulaman state seat.

Addressing more than 500 supporters, he says the purpose of the different parties coming together and contesting in all 73 seats is to replace Warisan Plus as the next state government.

"We met yesterday and all agreed to a consensus, we develop and we protect (Sabah),” he adds.

He reminds all parties to set aside their differences and focus on winning the state polls to bring development to the state.

He urges Bersatu and PN to work with its partners in BN.

Muhyiddin also reminds the crowd to wear masks and observe physical distancing.

After his speech, Muhyiddin leaves to visit a nearby fishing market whereas Hajiji, a seven-term Sulaman assemblyperson, heads to the nomination centre in Dewan Seri Sulamam Tuaran.

Don't cause Covid-19 cluster - cops tell supporters

9am: Semporna Community Hall, Semporna - The crowd outside the nomination centre swells to more than 100 people despite guidelines with regard to Covid-19.

This is in part due to the nomination centre serving three constituencies - namely Sulabayan, Senallang and Bugaya.

Most of them are BN and PN supporters as all three of their candidates have arrived.

Police promptly advise the supporters to observe the Covid-19 guidelines.

"We don't want a situation like what happened in Lahad Datu," says a police officer.

He was referring to the Benteng Lahad Datu cluster which up to yesterday, recorded 170 Covid-19 cases.

Semporna is around 150km from Lahad Datu.

Shortly after, some 300 Warisan supporters turn up on the main road, a stone's throw away from the nomination centre, signalling that Warisan president Shafie Apdal may soon arrive. 

They chanted slogans and waved the Warisan flag but one party coordinator urged them not to display the flags.

"Don't carry the flags, this is our president's advised," he says.

Nomination rules do not allow candidates to bear party logos while in the nomination centre.

10 minutes later, police also move in to advise the crowd to disperse. They comply with the directive.

'Friendly fire' - PBS candidate expected to face Umno challenger

8.50am: Dewan Jabatan Kerja Raya Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu - Umno is still expected to field a candidate in the Tanjung Aru seat which will clash with PBS’ candidate Yong Oui Fah.

This is despite BN president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saying yesterday they would resolve the seat clashes.

“Yes... there are a lot of 'friendly' (fire) this time.

“We are just following orders from the party,” Yong tells Malaysiakini, when asked if Umno is still expected to field a candidate for the seat.

Currently, six candidates have arrived at the nomination centre from PBS, LDP, Usno, PGRS, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and an independent candidate.

Warisan candidate Junz Wong and Umno candidate Mohd Reduan Aklee have yet to arrive.

Read more: Sabah polls: PBS joins the fray in 15 seats, to clash almost half with BN

Wan Azizah accompanies Sabah PKR chief to nomination centre

8.45am : Wisma Wanita, Kota Kinabalu - Former Sabah deputy chief minister, Christina Liew arrives at the nomination centre.

This will be the fourth time the Sabah PKR chief will seek to defend her Api-Api seat.

Among those present at the nomination centre are PKR advisor Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin and Kangar MP Noor Amin Ahmad, together with about 10 party supporters.

Lecturer with a passion for fishery vies for Sg Manila seat

8.35am: Dewan Serbaguna Libaran, Libaran - All three candidates from Warisan arrive at the nomination centre - Arunarnsin Taib (N50 Gum Gum), Mahmud Sudin (N51 Sg Manila) and Armani Mahiruddin (N52 Sg Sibuga).

Arunarnsin is the incumbent in Gum-Gum, while Mahmud and Armani are first time candidates for Warisan.

Mahmud, a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, says one of his focus areas is to develop the fishing community in Sg Manila.

The Sg Manila native says fishery is one of his passions, having also been involved in teaching related matters at UMS.

Meanwhile, Armani, a former Sungai Sibuga Umno Women member of 22 years, says the time has come for her to move to a Sabah-based party.

She also holds the record for being the first woman appointed as Dewan Negara deputy speaker in 2009.

Four candidates for Tanjung Aru seat arrive at nomination centre

8.30am: Dewan Jabatan Kerja Raya Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu - Four candidates for the Tanjung Aru seat have arrived.

They are Yong Oui Fah from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Rizawani Fiona Heng from Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS), Ibrahim Mohd Laiman Diki from Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and independent candidate Jan Chow.

Umno and Warisan are also expected to field candidates but they have yet to arrive.

Read more: Why native land titles have become a hot-button issue in Sabah

Shafie's challenger from PN arrives

8.25am: Semporna Community Hall, Semporna - A number of candidates have arrived at the venue, which is serving as the nomination centre for the Sulabayan, Senallang and Bugaya seats.

This is considered a stronghold of incumbent Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal, who is expected to defend his Senallang seat.

So far, PN candidates Mohd Daud Tampokong and Norazman Utoh Naim, who are representing Bersatu in Bugaya and Senallang respectively, have arrived.

Photo: Mohd Daud Tampokong

PCS' Jihek Basanu is also present and is expected to join the race for Bugaya.

Only a handful of supporters are present in line with the Covid-19 guidelines.

Nomination centres will open at 9am.

Shortly after, BN's Abdul Manan Indanan, who is representing Umno in Sulabayan arrives.

He exchanges hugs with the two other PN candidates and also greets a group of supporters accompanying him to the nomination centre

Photo: Jihek Basanu

Time for change, says LDP chief who aims to dethrone Sabah PKR chief

8.22am: Wisma Wanita, Kota Kinabalu - LDP president Chin Su Phing, who is contesting for the Api-api seat has arrived at the nomination centre.

"We hope the rakyat can vote for a local party, it is time for us to change," he said.

Chin, who is making his election debut, added that LDP will contest 46 seats in total where half of it are JDM majority areas.

Api-api is expected to witness a five-way tussle.

The incumbent assemblyperson is Sabah PKR chief Christina Liew.

Sabah Bersatu chief arrives at HQ, greeted by hundreds of supporters

8.20am: Tuaran Town - Perikatan Nasional candidate for Sulaman, Hajiji Noor arrives at the Tuaran Bersatu headquarters, which is the gathering point for supporters.

Clad in a red traditional Malay costume, the Sabah Bersatu chief greets some 400 supporters, who try their best to observe the one-metre physical distance rule.

The supporters are seen holding PN flags, which make its debut in the state polls.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Bersatu president, will arrive later to lend his support to Hajiji, the seven-term Sulaman assemblyperson who won the seat under BN's ticket in the past.

Hajiji is expected to be challenged by Rekan Hussien of PCS and Aliasgar Basir from Warisan.

A total of 11,711 voters will vote in Sulaman, which is about a 30-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu.

Earlier, a team of police officers conducted an inspection at a restaurant located below the Bersatu headquarters due to the prime minister's scheduled arrival.

Read more: Sabah Decides 2020: Making sense of the players, parties and battles

Gum Gum candidates arrive, including ex-Amanah leader

8.10am: Dewan Serbaguna Libaran, Libaran - At least two potential contenders for the N50 Gum Gum seat have arrived.

One of them is former Sandakan Amanah chief coordinator Jainudin Berahim, who is planning to contest on an LDP ticket. Amanah is officially only fielding one candidate in this election.

Photo: Jainudin Berahim

The other is Undang Tumpong, 61, from Parti Cinta Sabah, a new party led by former foreign minister Anifah Aman, which has announced its intention to contest in all 73 seats.

Photo: Undang Tumpong

Covid-19 SOP to prevent gatherings, marches

8.10am: Dewan Jabatan Kerja Raya Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu - A handful of BN supporters are present in the vicinity of the nomination centre for the state seat of Tanjung Aru.

The nomination process for the Sabah election is unlikely to see crowds as the Election Commission has released new guidelines as precautionary measures against Covid-19.

This includes forbidding supporters from gathering and marching with the candidates to the nomination centre.

The Tanjung Aru state seat is expected to see a clash between two PN allies, namely BN and PBS, barring any last-minute concessions.

They will face Warisan. Other minor parties such as PGRS are also expected to join the fray.

The Sabah state election campaign kicks off today with the nomination of candidates.

There are 73 seats up for grabs, an increase from the previous 60 seats due to redelineation of electoral boundaries.

Warisan, led by its president and incumbent chief minister Shafie Apdal, is seeking to defend its hold on the state government, along with allies Upko, DAP, PKR, and Amanah, who are collectively known as Warisan Plus.

They are up against the coalitions of BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN), as well as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

There will also be an array of local parties who will contest various seats, including Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) which plans to contest at least 70 seats.

Today's nomination period will start at 9am and end one hour later at 10am. 

Polling day is on Sept 26 after a 14-day campaign period.


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