Barisan leaders at the launch of the coalition's election machinery on Nov 9, 2025. – Bernama
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan will contest 41 of the 73 seats with its chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin set to lead the coalition to “win back” the state government they lost in the 2018 general election.
Bung Moktar, who declared “an all-out war” against the incumbent Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government and all other opponents, said that Umno would contest 36 seats, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) would contest two seats, and MCA would contest one seat in the Nov 29 Sabah election.
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He anticipates that additional seats will be announced since negotiations are still ongoing.
It has been noted that PBRS was expected to contest for at least two seats. Additionally, Umno plans to announce a candidate for the Senallang seat, which was currently held by the opposition leader and Warisan president, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Bung Moktar, who would be defending his Lamag seat, said that PBRS president Datuk Arthur Kurup would contest the interior Sook seat while Kudat MCA division chief Kevin Lee would make the party’s first foray into the traditional Chinese mixed seat of Tanjong Kapor in Sabah’s northern Kudat.
Former federal minister Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Tun Said would defend his family’s traditional Usukan seat, while Datuk Seri Rahman Dahlan would make his political comeback to contest the Tempasuk state seat under the Barisan Umno ticket.
Sabah Umno MPs, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin, would contest the Bongawan seat, and Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir would contest the Sungai Sibuga seat that was left vacant following the death of its incumbent assemblyman.
A young medical doctor, Dr Shahnon Rizal Thaijuddin, was set to take on Chief Minister Hajiji Noor in his stronghold of Sulaman, while Barisan-PBRS candidate for Kundasang, a local Japirin Sahadi Sahat, would be taking on GRS's Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) acting presiden,t Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
The widely sought-after Tanjung Keramat seat held by suspended Umno assemblyman cum Putatan MP Datuk Shahelmey Yahya would be contested by Putatan Umno division chief Jeffrey Mohamad Noh.
Apart from Sook and Kundasang, PBRS was expected to field candidates in Tulid and Paginatan.
The full list of candidates announced by Bung is as follows:
Banggi - Normalah Rasik
Bengkok - Harun Durabi
Pitas - Bolkiah Ismail
Tanjung Kapur - Kelvin Lee Sip Kin
Pintasan - Tadzul Radim
Tempasuk - Abdul Rahman Dahlan
Usukan - Salleh Said Keruak
Sulaman - Dr Shahnon Rizal Thaijuddin
Pantai Dalit - Alfian Sambas
Karambunai - Yakubah Khan
Darau - Arfansyah Abdul Gafar
Tanjung Keramat - Jeffery Noor Mohamed
Kawang - Jamal Norubit @ Nerub
Pantai Manis - Redzuan Ismail @ Gari
Bongawan - Mohamad Al-Amin
Membakut - Rusman Dulamit
Klias - Osin Jilon
Kuala Penyu - Awang Aslee Laka
Lumadan - Nazri Abdullah
Kundasang - Japirin Sahadi
Paginatan - Jemada @ Junaidi Sahat
Liawan - Nik Mohd Nadzri Nik Zawawi
Sook - Arthur Joseph Kurup
Nabawan - Laiji Ompongoh
Telupid - Benedict Asmat
Sugut - Arifin Pachuk
Labuk - Yusuf Latif
Sg Manila - Zaini Tiksun
Sg Sibuga - Zharif Aizat Samsuddin
Lamag - Bung Moktar Radin
Sukau - Jafry Ariffin
Tungku - Saleha Wahid
Silam - Sharif Musa Sharif Mabul
Kunak - Anil Jeet Singh
Bugaya - Abdul Manan Indanan
Balung - Erwan Palateh
Apas - Elmiariezan Ardan
Tanjong Batu - Samsuddin Yusop
Sebatik - Aslan Fadli Samsul Alang
