KOTA KINABALU: The son of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri and a husband-and-wife pair are among the candidates contesting in the Sabah election under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) banner.
The coalition announced the names of 51 candidates yesterday, including Hazem Mubarak, the son of Tun Musa Aman, who will contest in Sungai Manila.
Musa’s other son, Yamani Hafez, is Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for Sindumin.
Usno president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia will contest in Pintasan, while his wife, Puan Sri Diana Diego Yusrina Sufiana, will stand in Sekong.
Syed Ahmad Syed Abas, son of Sabah’s ninth speaker Datuk Seri Syed Abas Syed Ali, will contest in Balung.
Announcing the list, GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the presidents of the coalition’s component parties will contest except for Sabah Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah chiefs.
Parti Bersatu Sabah’s acting president, Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, will defend his Kundasang seat, while Parti Cinta Sabah president Tan Sri Anifah Aman will stand in Bongawan.
Hajiji, who is president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, will defend his Sulaman seat, which he has held since 1990.
Three out of the five Sabah STAR incumbents who decided to stick with GRS after their party left to go solo in this state election were retained to defend their seats of Paginatan, Liawan and Sook.
Another seat to be contested by GRS is Tanjung Keramat, whose candidate Shah Alfie Yahya Ahmad Shah is taking over from his brother Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
GRS will also contest in Banggi, Bengkoka, Pitas, Tanjong Kapor, Matunggong, Bandau, Tandek, Tempasuk, Usukan, Pantai Dalit, Kiulu, Karambunai, Darau, Moyog, Limbahau, Kawang, Pantai Manis, Bongawan, Klias, Kuala Penyu, Membakut, Lumadan and Lamag.
Kundasang, Karanaan, Tambunan, Kemabong, Nabawan, Telupid, Sukau, Sugut, Sungai Sibuga, Labuk, Kuamut, Tungku, Silam, Kunak, Bugaya, Apas, Kadamaian and Senallang are the other seats that GRS will be contesting.
Out of the 51 names, 35% are new faces, while a total of 28 are incumbents.
Hajiji said GRS did not announce the candidates for four seats as they were unable to attend. He declined to reveal the seats.
Meanwhile, Sabah Barisan Nasional has announced four additional candidates to strengthen its line-up and ensure broader representation across the state.
Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin named Willey Lampaki for Bandau, Rahmah Jan Sulaiman (Kemabong), Datuk Chin Hiung (Karamunting) and Chaya Sulaiman (Kukusan).
Sabah STAR has announced 29 candidates, the majority of whom are new faces, as the party remains open to cooperation with Upko, said its president, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Kitingan, who is set to defend his Tambunan seat, mentioned that he is awaiting a response from Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick and is hopeful for a meeting later today.
