Kota Kinabalu: Two former chief ministers are among the 596 candidates who have thrown their hats into the ring for 73 seats in the 17th Sabah State Election.
The 15th chief minister, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, 68, faces a four-cornered fight to defend his Senallang state seat.
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Mohd Shafie, the Chief Minister from 2018 to 2020, won the Senallang seat during the 15th state polls with a 5,301-vote majority before retaining it with a 4,631 majority at the previous state election.
The ninth Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak, 68, who is also Sabah Umno treasurer, will defend his Usukan seat he won at the previous state election, with a majority of 4,298 votes.
Salleh, the Chief Minister from 1994 to 1995, is a four-term Usukan state assemblyman.
Salleh, who represents Barisan Nasional (BN), faces a six-cornered fight against the likes of Datuk Japlin Akim, who used to be a three-term Usukan assemblyman, and Warisan women’s wing chief Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, who is also the Kota Belud Member of Parliament.
Four federal deputy ministers are among the 596 candidates vying for 73 state seats.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, who is Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president, is contesting on Barisan Nasional ticket for the Sook seat in a five-cornered fight.
Arthur, 43, who is Pensiangan Member of Parliament, will be in a five-cornered fight for the seat, which was won by Datuk Ellron Angin, 66, with a 1,232-vote majority in the previous state election.
Ellron, who is former Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) deputy president and former Sabah Youth and Sports Minister, is defending the seat.
Deputy Minister of Plantations and Commodities Datuk Chan Foong Hin, who is Sabah DAP chairman, is contesting the Tanjung Aru seat in a nine-cornered fight, challenging the incumbent, Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president Datuk Junz Wong, 46.
Chan, 46, is contesting as a Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the seat, which was won by Wong with a majority of 3,147 votes in the last state election.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin is facing incumbent Dr Daud Yusof, 64, who is Warisan vice-president, for the Bongawan seat in a nine-cornered contest. Dr Daud won the seat with a majority of 1,802 votes in the last state election.
Mohamad, 52, who is Kimanis Member of Parliament, will also face Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Tan Sri Anifah Aman, 71, who is contesting the state seat under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ticket.
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Mohammad Yusof Apdal, of Warisan and also the Lahad Datu Member of Parliament, will be in an eight-cornered contest for the Silam seat.
In the last state election, the Silam state seat was won by Dumi Pg Masdal, also from Warisan, with a majority of 1,542 votes, but he is not defending the seat.
Meanwhile, former Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, 42, who is United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president, is defending the Kadamaian seat in an eight-cornered contest.
He won the seat with a majority of 3,459 votes in the last state election.
The Election Commission has set Nov 29 as the polling day for the 17th State Election. Early voting is on Nov 25.
For the latest news on the 17th Sabah election, please visit
https://prn.bernama.com/sabah/index.php
