Sabah STAR emerges as kingmaker with BN, Warisan tied at 29 seats each

KOTA KINBALU: Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (pic) has emerged as the "kingmaker" in Sabah, as Sabah Barisan Nasional and Parti Warisan Sabah have both claimed victory with 29 seats each.

Dr Jeffrey, who wrested the Tambunan state seat from his brother Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, is being sought by both Barisan and Warisan after his party managed to secure three seats, including the Keningau parliamentary and Bingkor state seat.

As official results started trickling in, both Barisan and Warisan (together with its partners PKR and DAP) claim they had won 29 seats each in the 60-member state assembly.

They both now need two more seats to form a simple-majority government.

Tan Sri Musa Aman arrived at around 12.30am Thursday (May 10) to meet with the victorious Barisan assemblymen at his Seri Gaya residence.

He left briefly at 1.30am before returning 15 minutes later.

It was understood that he had attempted to meet with Head of State Tun Juhar Mahirruddin.

It is believed that negotiations will be conducted with Dr Jeffrey and other Barisan assemblymen to form the state government.

Shortly before midnight, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal asked Musa to concede defeat, saying that Warisan had the simple majority needed to claim victory.

Shafie is also believed to be in contact with Barisan assemblymen in a bid to strengthen his position to be sworn in as Sabah Chief Minister.

A crowd had gathered at Shafie's house in Taman Golfview here for the election results.