Sabah state election features 596 candidates across 73 seats, with independents leading at 74 candidates and Tulid constituency having the most contenders at 14
KOTA KINABALU: A record 596 candidates will contest for 73 state seats in the 17th Sabah state election, Election Commission chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun confirmed.
Independent candidates lead the field with 74 contenders, followed by Parti Warisan with 73 candidates and Parti Impian Sabah with 72.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah fields 55 candidates, while Parti Solidariti Tanahairku has 46 and Barisan Nasional presents 45 candidates.
Perikatan Nasional has 42 candidates, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat fields 40, and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation contests 25 seats.
Pakatan Harapan has 22 candidates, with smaller parties and independents completing the extensive candidate list.
“No nomination was rejected,” Ramlan told a media conference after nominations closed.
The 596 candidates represent a significant increase from the 447 who contested in the 2020 Sabah state election.
Male candidates dominate with 525 contenders, while 71 female candidates are participating in the election.
The oldest candidate is 86-year-old Uling @ Thomas Anggan from Parti Kebangsaan Sabah, contesting the Bingkor seat.
The youngest candidate is 24-year-old Mohd Syafiq Iqhmal Saharudin, also from Parti Kebangsaan Sabah.
Tulid state constituency features the most crowded contest with 14 candidates vying for the seat.
Bandau, Tamparuli, Inanam, and Kapayan each have 13 candidates, while Banggi and Moyong feature 12-cornered fights.
Bengkoka, Tanjong Kapor, Pintasan, Karambunai, Tanjung Keramat, and Balung will see 11 candidates contesting each seat.
Ten seats have nine-cornered fights, eight seats feature eight-cornered contests, and 10 seats have seven-cornered battles.
Thirteen constituencies will witness six-cornered fights, eight seats have five-cornered contests, and two seats feature four-cornered fights.
The Election Commission has established 86 election campaign enforcement teams to monitor all campaigning activities.
Campaigning begins immediately and continues until 11.59 pm on November 28.
Polling day is set for November 29, with early voting scheduled for November 25. – Bernama
