2020 Sabah state election

State election in Sabah, Malaysia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

Registered1,124,598
Turnout66.61%
Quick facts All 73 elected seats in the Legislative Assembly 37 seats needed for a majority, Registered ...
2020 Sabah state election

 2018
26 September 2020 (2020-09-26)
2025 

All 73 elected seats in the Legislative Assembly
37 seats needed for a majority
Registered1,124,598
Turnout66.61%
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Hajiji Noor Shafie Apdal
Party BERSATU Sabah WARISAN
Alliance GRS WARISAN+
Leader since 12 September 2020 (2020-09-12) 17 October 2016 (2016-10-17)
Leader's seat Sulaman Senallang
Last election 40.08%, 26 seats[a] 49.78%, 34 seats[b]
Seats won 38 32
Seat change Increase12 Decrease2
Popular vote 316,112 317,991
Percentage 43.22% 43.42%
Swing Increase3.14 pp Decrease6.36 pp

Results by constituency

Chief Minister before election

Shafie Apdal
WARISAN

Elected Chief Minister

Hajiji Noor
GRS Party

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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.

More information 2018 Sabah state election ...
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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
More information Federal seat, No. ...
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Departing incumbents

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

More information No., State Constituency ...
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
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Opinion polls

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

More information Institute, Date ...
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%
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Results

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

More information Party or alliance, Votes ...
Party or allianceVotes%Seats+/–
Gabungan Rakyat SabahUnited Malays National Organisation122,35816.7314–3
Malaysian United Indigenous Party86,38311.8111+11
United Sabah Party49,9416.837+1
Homeland Solidarity Party35,5864.876+4
Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah9,6871.320–1
Malaysian Chinese Association8,9481.2200
Sabah Progressive Party3,1460.4300
Total316,04943.2238+7
Warisan PlusSabah Heritage Party186,74925.5423+2
Democratic Action Party69,4779.5060
People's Justice Party28,3723.8820
United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation29,4734.031–5
National Trust Party3,4700.4700
Total317,54143.4232+3
Love Sabah Party29,1183.9800
Liberal Democratic Party12,4471.7000
United Sabah National Organisation (New)8,8151.2100
Sabah People's Hope Party4,4150.6000
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah3,7470.5100
Sabah People's Unity Party2,1600.3000
Sabah Native Co-operation Party6040.0800
Sabah Nationality Party240.0000
Independents36,4114.983+3
Total731,331100.0073+13
Valid votes731,33197.63
Invalid/blank votes17,7522.37
Total votes749,083100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,124,59866.61
Source: Election Commission of Malaysia[10]
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Seats that changed allegiance

More information No., Seat ...
No. Seat Previous Party (2018) Current Party (2020)
N02 Sabah Bengkoka new seat BN (UMNO)
N03 Sabah Pitas BN (UMNO) Independent
N05 Sabah Matunggong BN (PBS) PBS
N06 Sabah Bandau new seat PN (BERSATU)
N07 Sabah Tandek BN (PBS) PBS
N08 Sabah Pintasan new seat PN (BERSATU)
N11 Sabah Kadamaian BN (UPKO) UPKO
N12 Sabah Sulaman BN (UMNO) PN (BERSATU)
N13 Sabah Pantai Dalit new seat BN (UMNO)
N14 Sabah Tamparuli BN (PBS) PBS
N15 Sabah Kiulu BN (PBS) PBS
N16 Sabah Karambunai WARISAN BN (UMNO)
N17 Sabah Darau new seat WARISAN
N24 Sabah Tanjung Keramat new seat BN (UMNO)
N27 Sabah Limbahau new seat WARISAN
N28 Sabah Kawang BN (UMNO) PN (BERSATU)
N29 Sabah Pantai Manis WARISAN BN (UMNO)
N31 Sabah Membakut BN (UMNO) PN (BERSATU)
N32 Sabah Klias BN (UMNO) PN (BERSATU)
N33 Sabah Kuala Penyu BN (UPKO) PN (BERSATU)
N34 Sabah Lumadan BN (UMNO) PBS
N36 Sabah Kundasang BN (PBS) PBS
N37 Sabah Karanaan BN (UMNO) PN (BERSATU)
N38 Sabah Paginatan BN (UPKO) PN (STAR)
N39 Sabah Tambunan STAR PN (STAR)
N40 Sabah Bingkor STAR PN (STAR)
N41 Sabah Liawan WARISAN PN (STAR)
N43 Sabah Kemabong BN (UMNO) Independent
N44 Sabah Tulid new seat PN (STAR)
N45 Sabah Sook BN (PBRS) PN (STAR)
N46 Sabah Nabawan BN (UPKO) PN (BERSATU)
N47 Sabah Telupid new seat PBS
N49 Sabah Labuk BN (PBS) PN (BERSATU)
N51 Sabah Sungai Manila new seat BN (UMNO)
N57 Sabah Kuamut BN (UPKO) Independent
N58 Sabah Lamag new seat BN (UMNO)
N61 Sabah Segama new seat WARISAN
N68 Sabah Apas BN (UMNO) PN (BERSATU)
N70 Sabah Kukusan new seat WARISAN
N73 Sabah Sebatik BN (UMNO) WARISAN
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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
BengkokaHarun DurabiUMNO31.98
PintasanFairuz RenddanBERSATU33.31
KundasangDr. Joachim GunsalamPBS43.35
TulidFlovia NgSTAR33.45
LumadanRuslan MuharamPBS34.55
PaginatanAbidin MadingkirSTAR35.65
TandekHendrus AndingPBS36.87
KemabongRubin BalangIND38.48
MatunggongJulita MajungkiPBS39.09
KuamutMasiung BanahIND39.11
LiawanAnnuar Ayub AmanSTAR39.12
PitasRuddy AwahIND40.14
TelupidJohnnybone J. KurumPBS42.29
KarambunaiYakubah KhanUMNO42.86
BalungHamid AwangUMNO44.51
TempasukMohd. Arsad BistariUMNO45.35
LabukSamad JambriBERSATU46.11
SookEllron Alfred AnginSTAR46.71
Pantai ManisTamin @ Mohd. Tamin ZainalUMNO49.56
Kuala PenyuLimus JuryBERSATU49.56
Tanjung KeramatShahelmey YahyaUMNO51.75
KiuluJoniston Lumai @ BangkuaiPBS51.93
Sungai SibugaMohamad Hamsan Awang SupianUMNO52.70
LamagBung Moktar RadinUMNO54.06
Sungai ManilaMokran IngkatUMNO55.61
SukauJafry AriffinUMNO55.67
NabawanAbdul Ghani Mohamed YassinBERSATU55.94
Fairly safe
SugutJames RatibUMNO57.88
ApasNizam Abu Bakar TitinganBERSATU58.30
TamparuliJahid JahimPBS59.26
KliasIsnin AliasnihBERSATU59.90
Safe
BandauMohd. Fikri BahandaBERSATU60.41
MembakutMohd. Arifin Mohd. ArifBERSATU60.70
Tanjung BatuAndi Muhammad Suryady BandyUMNO62.08
Pantai DalitJasnih DayaUMNO62.73
UsukanSalleh Said KeruakUMNO65.28
SulamanHajiji Mohd. NoorBERSATU65.83
BingkorRobert Tawik @ NordinSTAR67.04
KawangGhulamhaidar Khan BahadarBERSATU71.24
KaranaanMasidi ManjunBERSATU73.70
TambunanDr. Jeffrey G. KitinganSTAR75.21
NON-GOVERNMENT SEATS
Marginal
Gum-GumArunarsin TaibWARISAN39.21
BongawanDaud YusofWARISAN42.26
KukusanRina JainalWARISAN42.53
SebatikHassan A. Gani Pg. AmirWARISAN44.58
PetagasAwang Ahmad Sah Awang SahariWARISAN45.49
BanggiMohammad MohamarinWARISAN45.89
MerotaiSarifuddin HataWARISAN47.83
KunakNorazlinah ArifWARISAN48.65
DarauAzhar MatussinWARISAN48.67
SinduminDr. Yusof YacobWARISAN48.96
TungkuAssaffal P. AlianWARISAN49.15
Tanjong KaporBen Chong Chen BinWARISAN49.84
MelalapPeter AnthonyWARISAN50.18
InanamPeto GalimPKR50.92
KadamaianEwon BenedickUPKO51.07
SegamaMohamaddin KetapiWARISAN52.41
SekongAlias SaniWARISAN55.07
SilamDumi Pg. MasdalWARISAN55.40
Fairly safe
LimbahauJuil NuatimWARISAN57.12
KaramuntingGeorge Hiew Vun ZinWARISAN58.76
Safe
Tanjong AruJunz Wong Hong JunWARISAN60.34
MoyogIgnatius Darell LeikingWARISAN62.83
Api-ApiChristina Liew Chin JinPKR67.80
Tanjong PapatFrankie Poon Ming FungDAP68.00
SulabayanJaujan SambakongWARISAN69.04
ElopuraCalvin Chong Ket KiunDAP73.61
BugayaManis Muka Mohd. DarahWARISAN74.44
Sri TanjongJustin Wong Yung BinDAP76.58
SenallangMohd. Shafie ApdalWARISAN77.16
KapayanJannie LasimbangDAP77.40
LikasTan Lee FattDAP86.33
LuyangPhoong Jin ZheDAP90.56

Aftermath

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

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 died 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

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

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

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[32] in Sabah (approved in 25 May 2023) and the GRS coalition succeeded in retaining the government.[33]

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.[34] As of 25 May 2023, Sabah State Legislative Assembly finally approved the Anti-Switching Parties Law (Anti-frogs habit).[35]

See also

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

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