KOTA KINABALU: Amanah has named religious teacher Ustaz Mohd Julpikar Ab Mijan as its candidate for the Sulabayan state seat in Semporna.
Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced this at the party’s Sabah State Convention at a hotel here on Monday (Oct 27).
It is the first official announcement of a candidate from the four-party Sabah Pakatan Harapan, which is negotiating separately with Sabah Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to avoid contests with their federal unity government partners.
Julpikar, an educator, social activist and community leader, is expected to take on Parti Warisan’s Datuk Jaujan Sambakong, a two-term assemblyman for Sulabayan.
Semporna district is the stronghold of Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Julpikar holds a Bachelor’s in Syariah and Law from UIN Suska Riau, Indonesia, with experience in educational administration, religious outreach and NGO work.
He was named as Maulidur Rasul Figure in 2021 and Ma’al Hijrah Figure for 2023 for the Semporna district.
Mohamad said that Julpikar was a promising young figure capable of bringing value-driven political ideas and grassroots development to the state.
In his keynote address, Mohamad urged Amanah’s election machinery in Sabah to begin preparations immediately and mobilise efforts in a coordinated manner to face the Nov 29 state election.
"This election demands strong commitment and strategic planning at every level. Amanah must work hard to secure our first seat in Sabah," he said.
He reminded party members to uphold integrity and moral courage, stressing that true victory is not merely measured by votes, but by public trust in the party’s sincerity and consistency.
"With teamwork and genuine dedication, Amanah can win the hearts of Sabahans and represent their voices in the state assembly," he added.
It is not clear if Amanah will contest any additional seats in Sabah, as seat talks with GRS and Sabah Barisan are still underway.
Apart from Amanah, the other members of Pakatan are PKR, DAP and Upko.
