Kota Kinabalu: Star Sabah announced 29 candidates for the 17th state election on Wednesday, with plans to contest 40 seats in total. The party has fielded mostly new faces, with five women among them.
Party President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan said the remaining 11 candidates will be finalised in the coming days. The party initially considered contesting 43 seats but scaled back after reviewing backup candidates.
On candidate selection criteria, Jeffrey said the first is they do not have any problem. “The second most important thing is winnable and the third is capable. The rest, we do not really care. We want to make sure they are clean, winnable and they can work with the people and deliver,” he said.
He said Star Sabah is currently working with SAPP and has scheduled talks with Upko on Nov 13.
“Yes, I am sure,” he said, when asked whether there was positive feedback from Upko President Datuk Ewon Benedick.
“In fact, we were waiting for them (Upko) before our candidate announcement but since our candidate announcement has been planned earlier, so some of the reasons is that,” Jeffrey said.
Jeffrey indicated that the distribution of seats would also consider the collaboration between them.
On collaboration with other parties, he said this would be held after the election.
He reminded candidates not to be easily bought. Jeffrey, who is defending his Tambunan seat, is currently the party’s only remaining assemblyman.
For the record, five other assemblymen who won under Star Sabah’s banner in the 2020 election recently quit the party to stay with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, which Star Sabah exited in October 2025.
In the 2020 election, Star Sabah won six out of eight seats it contested, namely, Bingkor, Tambunan, Tulid, Liawan, Paginatan and Sook.
The full list of 29 candidates: Tambunan - Datuk Seri Dr. Jeffrey G. Kitingan, Bengkoka - Maklin Masiau, Bandau - Shirewin D. Patrick, Tandek - Datuk Arlinsia Agang, Pintasan - Raplin Samat, Tempasuk - Walter Mark Mukis, Usukan - Mohd Lin Harun, Tamparuli - Jinitoh Sontori, Kiulu - Terence Sinti, Karambunai - Datuk Stephen Teo, Inanam - Datuk Kenny Chua, Api - Api - Ting Shu Kiong, Petagas - Annita Shiela F Among, Kapayan - Bernard Loguin, Kawang - Beverly Natalie Koh, Membakut - Adrian Lajim, Sindumin - Moktar Matussin, Karanaan - Mohd Anuar Abdul Ghani, Paginatan - Pedderin Tuling, Bingkor - Mohd Ishak Ayub, Liawan - Augustine A Nain, Melalap - Alviana Linus, Kemabong - Hasmin Azroy Abdullah, Tulid - Datuk Baritus Gungkit, Sook - Ireneus Pagut, Tungku - Suling Isib, Bugaya - Mohd Taha Mohd Dara, Balung - Chee Kheng Moi, Sri Tanjong - Datuk Fung Len Fui.
