Kota kinabalu: Several candidates notched up excellent victories in the just-concluded 17th Sabah state election, showing their strong influence in the state’s political landscape. Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor retained his Sulaman seat with a majority of 8,919 votes, significantly higher than the majority of 3,099 votes he obtained in the previous election, which showed the strong public support that strengthens his position as a major political force in the state.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Parti Warisan Sabah’s Jamil Hamzah secured the Bugaya seat with the highest majority in this election at 10,046 votes, nearly doubling the 6,629 vote majority in the by-election in 2022. Meanwhile, UPKO president Datuk Ewon Benedick retained his Kadamaian seat with a majority of 9,672 votes in an eight-cornered fight, and STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan won Tambunan with a majority of 7,311 votes in a seven-cornered fight.

Other GRS candidates scored important victories, including Datuk Seri Ghulamhaidar Yusof Khan Bahadar in DUN Kawang (8,763 votes) and GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun in Karanaan (5,361 votes). Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal also retained his Senallang with a majority of 6,837 votes.

A total of 1.74 million voters were eligible to cast their votes in this election.