Kota kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, along with several prominent political party leaders, submitted their nomination papers today to participate in the 17th Sabah State Election. Hajiji, who is the chairman of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), filed his nomination at the Dewan Seri Sulaman Nomination Centre in Tuaran, aiming to defend the Sulaman seat, which he secured in the previous 2020 election with a 3,099-vote majority.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin submitted his nomination papers at the Dewan Sri Lamag nomination centre in Kinabatangan. Bung Moktar seeks to retain the Lamag seat, which he won in the last election with a 661-vote majority. Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal also filed his nomination papers at Dewan Arena Masyarakat in Semporna, contesting the Senallang seat, where he previously achieved a 4,631-vote majority.
Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Tan Sri Anifah Aman entered the race for the Bongawan seat, submitting his nomination at the Dewan Kesenian Islam in Membakut. This marks his first attempt to contest the seat under the GRS banner, having previously contested unsuccessfully as a PCS candidate.
The Election Commission (EC) reports that 1,784,843 voters, including 1,760,417 regular voters, 11,697 military personnel and their spouses, and 12,729 police personnel and their spouses, are eligible to vote in this election. The EC has scheduled polling for November 29, with early voting set for November 25.
In other developments, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup filed his nomination papers at the Nabawan district council multipurpose hall to contest the Sook seat under BN. United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia is vying for the Pintasan seat under GRS, having filed his nomination at the Tun Said Bin Keruak Community Hall.
Additionally, Sabah PKR deputy chairman Datuk Peto Galim submitted his nomination papers to defend the Inanam seat under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner at the MAKSAK Hall. Former National Unity Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi is contesting the Merotai seat under PH for the first time, having filed his papers at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Yuk Chin Hall in Tawau.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also serves as BN chairman, accompanied candidates Datuk Yakubah Khan and Arfanshah Abdul Gafar at the MAKSAK hall nomination centre. DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke was present with candidate Datuk Chan Foong Hin for the Tanjung Aru seat at the Seri Putatan hall, and DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming accompanied Philip Yap for Sri Tanjong at the Tawau Community Hall. Sabah DAP chairman Phoong Jin Zhe entered the race for the Likas seat for the first time, submitting his papers at the Menara Hasil hall.