# 2020 Sabah state election

The 2020 Sabah state election took place on 26 September 2020 to elect all 73 elected members of the 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly. The previous Assembly was dissolved on 30 July 2020.
The state snap election was called prematurely after a political crisis arose. Both Shafie Apdal, incumbent Chief Minister and leader of Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition government and Musa Aman, leader of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition opposition claimed to have the majority to form the government. However, the Governor of Sabah, Juhar Mahiruddin decided to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly on the advice of Shafie.
The state election was conducted under the New Normal and special standard operating procedures (SOP) imposed by the Electoral Commission (EC) as the country is still observing the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition won the election with a simple majority of 38 seats. Hajiji Noor from BERSATU–PN was sworn in as Chief Minister 3 days later. The alliance of Perikatan Nasional with 17 seats, Barisan Nasional with 14 seats, and PBS with 7 seats made GRS the biggest electoral coalition in Sabah since September 2020.
This was the first Sabah state election not held on the same day as the Malaysia general election since 1999, when Sabah held its election on March that year as opposed to the general election date in November 1999.

## Background

The 14th general election witnessed 29 seats from the government side and 31 seats from the non-government side filled the State Legislative Assembly. This count, however, did not include six seats from United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) and four from UMNO that switched allegiance from Musa to Shafie. The government side has 11 safe seats and four fairly safe seats, while the non-government side has two safe seats and fivefairly safe seats.
2018 Sabah state election :

## Constituencies

13 new seats are added into the existing 60 state constituencies as a result of redelineation of Sabah state constituencies approved by the Dewan Rakyat on 17 July 2019. The new seats are Bengkoka, Bandau, Pintasan, Pantai Dalit, Darau, Tanjung Keramat, Limbahau, Tulid, Telupid, Sungai Manila, Lamag, Segama and Kukusan.
2020 Sabah state election constituencies :
| Federal seat | No. | Constituency | Electors (2020) | Area (km2) | Density | District | Last election assemblyperson | Last election held party (GE14) | Last election held party (GE14) | Majority | Current assemblyperson's represent party (2020 SE) |
| P.167 Kudat | N01 | Banggi | 5961 | 621 | 9.6 | Kudat | Mohamad Mohamarin | | WARISAN | 379 | WARISAN |
| P.167 Kudat | N02 | Bengkoka | 11543 | 1011 | 11.4 | Pitas | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.167 Kudat | N03 | Pitas | 10928 | 454 | 24.1 | Pitas | Bolkiah Ismail | | BN (UMNO) | 1282 | Uncontested |
| P.167 Kudat | N04 | Tanjong Kapor | 23700 | 214 | 110.7 | Kudat | Chong Chen Bin | | WARISAN | 2992 | WARISAN |
| P.168 Kota Marudu | N05 | Matunggong | 17111 | 534 | 32.0 | Kudat | Julita Majungki | | BN (PBS) | 1687 | PN+ (PBS) |
| P.168 Kota Marudu | N06 | Bandau | 14615 | 756 | 19.3 | Kota Marudu | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.168 Kota Marudu | N07 | Tandek | 15971 | 992 | 16.1 | Kota Marudu | Lasiah Baranting @ Anita | | BN (PBS) | 4592 | PN (STAR) (contesting as independent) |
| P.169 Kota Belud | N08 | Pintasan | 10867 | 300 | 36.2 | Kota Belud | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.169 Kota Belud | N09 | Tempasuk | 11996 | 159 | 75.4 | Kota Belud | Musbah Jamli | | BN (UMNO) | 2264 | IND |
| P.169 Kota Belud | N10 | Usukan | 16883 | 95 | 177.7 | Kota Belud | Japlin Akim | | BN (UMNO) | 1225 | Uncontested |
| P.169 Kota Belud | N11 | Kadamaian | 17968 | 818 | 22.0 | Kota Belud | Ewon Benedick | | BN (UPKO) | 3294 | WARISAN+ (UPKO) |
| P.170 Tuaran | N12 | Sulaman | 11711 | 113 | 103.6 | Tuaran | Hajiji Mohd. Noor | | BN (UMNO) | 7774 | PN (BERSATU) |
| P.170 Tuaran | N13 | Pantai Dalit | 15091 | 48 | 314.4 | Tuaran | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.170 Tuaran | N14 | Tamparuli | 16597 | 289 | 57.4 | Tuaran | Jahid Jahim | | BN (PBS) | 2080 | PN+ (PBS) |
| P.170 Tuaran | N15 | Kiulu | 10887 | 676 | 16.1 | Tuaran | Joniston Bangkuai | | BN (PBS) | 1443 | PN+ (PBS) |
| P.171 Sepanggar | N16 | Karambunai | 19560 | 88 | 222.3 | Kota Kinabalu | Azhar Matussin | | WARISAN | 5366 | WARISAN (contested in Darau) |
| P.171 Sepanggar | N17 | Darau | 18350 | 14 | 1,310.7 | Kota Kinabalu | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.171 Sepanggar | N18 | Inanam | 26035 | 215 | 121.1 | Kota Kinabalu | Kenny Chua Teck Ho | | PH (PKR) | 7783 | PN (STAR) (contesting as independent) |
| P. 172 Kota Kinabalu | N19 | Likas | 14939 | 12 | 1,244.9 | Kota Kinabalu | Tan Lee Fatt | | PH (DAP) | 7902 | WARISAN+ (DAP) |
| P. 172 Kota Kinabalu | N20 | Api-Api | 19149 | 4 | 4,787.3 | Kota Kinabalu | Christina Liew | | PH (PKR) | 2954 | WARISAN+ (PKR) |
| P. 172 Kota Kinabalu | N21 | Luyang | 25775 | 10 | 2,577.5 | Kota Kinabalu | Phoong Jin Zhe | | PH (DAP) | 12408 | WARISAN+ (DAP) |
| P.173 Putatan | N22 | Tanjong Aru | 14941 | 30 | 498.0 | Kota Kinabalu | Junz Wong Hong Jun | | WARISAN | 4610 | WARISAN |
| P.173 Putatan | N23 | Petagas | 13763 | 15 | 917.5 | Penampang (Putatan) | Uda Sulai | | WARISAN | 208 | Uncontested |
| P.173 Putatan | N24 | Tanjung Keramat | 14350 | 13 | 1,103.8 | Penampang (Putatan) | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.174 Penampang | N25 | Kapayan | 30034 | 19 | 1,580.7 | Penampang & Kota Kinabalu | Jannie Lasimbang | | PH (DAP) | 13250 | WARISAN+ (DAP) |
| P.174 Penampang | N26 | Moyog | 19465 | 473 | 41.2 | Penampang | Jenifer Lasimbang | | WARISAN | 4442 | Uncontested |
| P.175 Papar | N27 | Limbahau | 12739 | 512 | 24.9 | Papar | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.175 Papar | N28 | Kawang | 14932 | 55 | 271.5 | Papar | Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar | | BN (UMNO) | 2862 | PN (BERSATU) |
| P.175 Papar | N29 | Pantai Manis | 14322 | 43 | 333.1 | Papar | Aidi Moktar | | WARISAN | 2108 | Uncontested |
| P.176 Kimanis | N30 | Bongawan | 16735 | 657 | 25.5 | Beaufort & Papar | Daud Yusof | | WARISAN | 795 | WARISAN |
| P.176 Kimanis | N31 | Membakut | 13617 | 292 | 46.6 | Beaufort | Mohd. Arifin Mohd. Arif | | BN (UMNO) | 2403 | PN (BERSATU) |
| P.177 Beaufort | N32 | Klias | 16905 | 423 | 40.0 | Beaufort | Isnin Aliasnih | | BN (UMNO) | 2336 | PN (BERSATU) |
| P.177 Beaufort | N33 | Kuala Penyu | 16396 | 448 | 36.6 | Kuala Penyu | Limus Jury | | BN (UPKO) | 3545 | PN (BERSATU) |
| P.178 Sipitang | N34 | Lumadan | 15044 | 1007 | 14.9 | Beaufort | Matbali Musah | | BN (UMNO) | 2935 | Uncontested |
| P.178 Sipitang | N35 | Sindumin | 16762 | 2708 | 6.2 | Sipitang | Yusof Yakob | | WARISAN | 760 | WARISAN |
| P.179 Ranau | N36 | Kundasang | 14986 | 1836 | 8.2 | Ranau | Joachim Gunsalam | | BN (PBS) | 255 | PN+ (PBS) |
| P.179 Ranau | N37 | Karanaan | 13425 | 185 | 72.6 | Ranau | Masidi Manjun | | BN (UMNO) | 3782 | PN (BERSATU) |
| P.179 Ranau | N38 | Paginatan | 15410 | 1870 | 8.2 | Ranau | Abidin Madingkir | | BN (UPKO) | 2066 | PN (STAR) |
| P.180 Keningau | N39 | Tambunan | 16511 | 1414 | 11.7 | Tambunan | Jeffrey Kitingan | | GSB (STAR) | 1037 | PN (STAR) |
| P.180 Keningau | N40 | Bingkor | 17828 | 397 | 44.9 | Keningau | Robert Tawik @ Nordin | | GSB (STAR) | 165 | PN (STAR) |
| P.180 Keningau | N41 | Liawan | 17446 | 420 | 41.5 | Keningau | Rasinin Kautis | | WARISAN | 1382 | WARISAN |
| P. 181 Tenom | N42 | Melalap | 13993 | 638 | 21.9 | Tenom | Peter Anthony | | WARISAN | 293 | WARISAN |
| P. 181 Tenom | N43 | Kemabong | 15086 | 1819 | 8.3 | Tenom | Jamawi Ja’afar | | BN (UMNO) | 895 | BN (UMNO) (contested in Melalap) |
| P.182 Pensiangan | N44 | Tulid | 8910 | 1250 | 7.1 | Keningau | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.182 Pensiangan | N45 | Sook | 10937 | 1533 | 7.1 | Keningau | Ellron Alfred Angin | | BN (PBRS) | 4485 | PN (STAR) |
| P.182 Pensiangan | N46 | Nabawan | 12475 | 6114 | 2.0 | Nabawan | Bobbey Ah Fang Suan | | BN (UPKO) | 2072 | Uncontested |
| P.183 Beluran | N47 | Telupid | 8952 | 1407 | 6.4 | Telupid | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.183 Beluran | N48 | Sugut | 7862 | 2197 | 3.6 | Beluran | James Ratib | | BN (UMNO) | 1521 | BN (UMNO) |
| P.183 Beluran | N49 | Labuk | 11712 | 3844 | 3.0 | Beluran | Abd. Rahman Kongkawang | | BN (PBS) | 2600 | IND |
| P.184 Libaran | N50 | Gum-Gum | 12474 | 777 | 16.1 | Sandakan | Arunarsin Taib | | WARISAN | 598 | WARISAN |
| P.184 Libaran | N51 | Sungai Manila | 12761 | 16 | 797.6 | Sandakan | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.184 Libaran | N52 | Sungai Sibuga | 23308 | 37 | 629.9 | Sandakan | Musa Aman | | BN (UMNO) | 2184 | Uncontested |
| P.185 Batu Sapi | N53 | Sekong | 17054 | 442 | 38.6 | Sandakan | Arifin Asgali | | WARISAN | 2035 | Uncontested |
| P.185 Batu Sapi | N54 | Karamunting | 15896 | 12 | 1,324.7 | Sandakan | Hiew Vun Zin | | WARISAN | 3848 | WARISAN |
| P.186 Sandakan | N55 | Elopura | 25794 | 19 | 1,357.6 | Sandakan | Chong Ket Kiun | | PH (DAP) | 6647 | WARISAN+ (DAP) |
| P.186 Sandakan | N56 | Tanjong Papat | 14287 | 4 | 3,571.8 | Sandakan | Poon Ming Fung | | PH (DAP) | 1816 | WARISAN+ (DAP) |
| P.187 Kinabatangan | N57 | Kuamut | 9854 | 10954 | 0.9 | Tongod & Kinabatangan | Masiung Banah | | BN (UPKO) | 4121 | IND |
| P.187 Kinabatangan | N58 | Lamag | 8159 | 2142 | 3.8 | Kinabatangan | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.187 Kinabatangan | N59 | Sukau | 10810 | 4972 | 2.2 | Kinabatangan | Saddi Abdul Rahman | | BN (UMNO) | 1628 | IND |
| P.188 Lahad Datu | N60 | Tungku | 13255 | 3297 | 4.0 | Lahad Datu | Assafal P. Alian | | WARISAN | 1001 | WARISAN |
| P.188 Lahad Datu | N61 | Segama | 16575 | 1144 | 14.5 | Lahad Datu | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.188 Lahad Datu | N62 | Silam | 17395 | 3049 | 5.7 | Lahad Datu | Dumi Masdal | | WARISAN | 2932 | WARISAN |
| P.188 Lahad Datu | N63 | Kunak | 14641 | 1104 | 13.3 | Kunak | Norazlinah Arif | | WARISAN | 268 | WARISAN |
| P.189 Semporna | N64 | Sulabayan | 14012 | 234 | 59.9 | Semporna | Jaujan Sambakong | | WARISAN | 4926 | WARISAN |
| P.189 Semporna | N65 | Senallang | 14336 | 299 | 47.9 | Semporna | Shafie Apdal | | WARISAN | 5301 | WARISAN |
| P.189 Semporna | N66 | Bugaya | 20267 | 593 | 34.2 | Semporna | Manis Buka Mohd. Darah | | WARISAN | 7851 | WARISAN |
| P.190 Tawau | N67 | Balung | 14600 | 943 | 15.5 | Tawau | Osman Jamal | | BN (UMNO) | 174 | Uncontested |
| P.190 Tawau | N68 | Apas | 19378 | 370 | 52.4 | Tawau | Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan | | BN (UMNO) | 1787 | PN (BERSATU) |
| P.190 Tawau | N69 | Sri Tanjong | 26493 | 19 | 1,394.4 | Tawau | Wong Sze Phin | | PH (DAP) | 9383 | Uncontested |
| P.191 Kalabakan | N70 | Kukusan | 12640 | 8 | 1,580.0 | Tawau | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat | new seat |
| P.191 Kalabakan | N71 | Tanjong Batu | 14875 | 11 | 1,352.3 | Tawau | Hamisa Samat | | BN (UMNO) | 1986 | Uncontested |
| P.191 Kalabakan | N72 | Merotai | 14973 | 902 | 16.6 | Tawau & Kalabakan | Sarifuddin Hata | | WARISAN | 2150 | WARISAN |
| P.191 Kalabakan | N73 | Sebatik | 10131 | 3630 | 2.8 | Kalabakan | Abd. Muis Picho | | BN (UMNO) | 193 | PN (BERSATU) |

## Departing incumbents

The following members of the 15th State Legislative Assembly did not participate in this election.
| No. | State Constituency | Departing MLA | Party | Date confirmed | First elected | Reason |
| N03 | Pitas | Bolkiah Ismail | IND | 12 September 2020 | 2008 | Not seeking re-election |
| N10 | Usukan | Japlin Akim | PN (BERSATU) | 10 September 2020 | 2018 | No nomination by the party |
| N23 | Petagas | Uda Sulai | WARISAN | 10 September 2020 | 2018 | Not chosen by the party |
| N26 | Moyog | Jennifer Lasimbang | WARISAN | 10 September 2020 | 2018 | Not chosen by the party |
| N29 | Pantai Manis | Aidi Moktar | WARISAN | 10 September 2020 | 2018 | Not chosen by the party |
| N34 | Lumadan | Matbali Musah | PN (BERSATU) | 10 September 2020 | 2018 | No nomination by the party |
| N46 | Nabawan | Bobbey Ah Fang Suan | PN (BERSATU) | 10 September 2020 | 2004 | No nomination by the party |
| N52 | Sungai Sibuga | Musa Aman | BN (UMNO) | 10 September 2020 | 1994 | No nomination by the party |
| N53 | Sekong | Arifin Asgali | WARISAN | 10 September 2020 | 2018 | Not chosen by the party |
| N67 | Balung | Osman Jamal | IND | 12 September 2020 | 2018 | Not seeking re-election |
| N69 | Sri Tanjong | Jimmy Wong Sze Phin | PH (DAP) | 10 September 2020 | 2018 | Not chosen by the party |
| N71 | Tanjong Batu | Hamisa Samat | IND | 12 September 2020 | 2008 | Not seeking re-election |

## Opinion polls

The following table shows recent opinion polling from last two weeks.
| Institute | Date | Warisan Plus (WARISAN) | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) | Other |
| SEEDS Sabah | 25 September 2020 | 40.7% | 43.4% | 15.9% |
| Sabah state election, 2018 | 9 May 2018 | 45.93% | 46.13% | 7.94% |

## Results

| Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government (41) | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government (41) | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government (41) | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government (41) | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government (41) | Warisan-led opposition (32)* | Warisan-led opposition (32)* | Warisan-led opposition (32)* | Warisan-led opposition (32)* |
| 17 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 3 | | 8 | 8 | 23 |
| Perikatan Nasional | Perikatan Nasional | PBS | Barisan Nasional | Other | Other | Pakatan Harapan | Pakatan Harapan | WARISAN |
| 11 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 3 | | | 6 | 23 |
| BERSATU | STAR | PBS | UMNO | | | | DAP | WARISAN |
| Sabah State Legislative Assembly, 26 September 2020 (73 seats) |||||

### Summary

| Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah | | United Malays National Organisation | 122,358 | 16.73 | 14 | –3 |
| | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah | | Malaysian United Indigenous Party | 86,383 | 11.81 | 11 | +11 |
| | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah | | United Sabah Party | 49,941 | 6.83 | 7 | +1 |
| | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah | | Homeland Solidarity Party | 35,586 | 4.87 | 6 | +4 |
| | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah | | Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah | 9,687 | 1.32 | 0 | –1 |
| | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah | | Malaysian Chinese Association | 8,948 | 1.22 | 0 | 0 |
| | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah | | Sabah Progressive Party | 3,146 | 0.43 | 0 | 0 |
| | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah | Total | Total | 316,049 | 43.22 | 38 | +7 |
| | Warisan Plus | | Sabah Heritage Party | 186,749 | 25.54 | 23 | +2 |
| | Warisan Plus | | Democratic Action Party | 69,477 | 9.50 | 6 | 0 |
| | Warisan Plus | | People's Justice Party | 28,372 | 3.88 | 2 | 0 |
| | Warisan Plus | | United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation | 29,473 | 4.03 | 1 | –5 |
| | Warisan Plus | | National Trust Party | 3,470 | 0.47 | 0 | 0 |
| | Warisan Plus | Total | Total | 317,541 | 43.42 | 32 | +3 |
| | Love Sabah Party | Love Sabah Party | Love Sabah Party | 29,118 | 3.98 | 0 | 0 |
| | Liberal Democratic Party | Liberal Democratic Party | Liberal Democratic Party | 12,447 | 1.70 | 0 | 0 |
| | United Sabah National Organisation (New) | United Sabah National Organisation (New) | United Sabah National Organisation (New) | 8,815 | 1.21 | 0 | 0 |
| | Sabah People's Hope Party | Sabah People's Hope Party | Sabah People's Hope Party | 4,415 | 0.60 | 0 | 0 |
| | Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah | Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah | Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah | 3,747 | 0.51 | 0 | 0 |
| | Sabah People's Unity Party | Sabah People's Unity Party | Sabah People's Unity Party | 2,160 | 0.30 | 0 | 0 |
| | Sabah Native Co-operation Party | Sabah Native Co-operation Party | Sabah Native Co-operation Party | 604 | 0.08 | 0 | 0 |
| | Sabah Nationality Party | Sabah Nationality Party | Sabah Nationality Party | 24 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 |
| | Independents | Independents | Independents | 36,411 | 4.98 | 3 | +3 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 731,331 | 100.00 | 73 | +13 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 731,331 | 97.63 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 17,752 | 2.37 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 749,083 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 1,124,598 | 66.61 | | |
| Source: Election Commission of Malaysia ||||||||

### Seats that changed allegiance

| No. | Seat | Previous Party (2018) | Previous Party (2018) | Current Party (2020) |
| N02 | Bengkoka | new seat | new seat | BN (UMNO) |
| N03 | Pitas | | BN (UMNO) | Independent |
| N05 | Matunggong | | BN (PBS) | PBS |
| N06 | Bandau | new seat | new seat | PN (BERSATU) |
| N07 | Tandek | | BN (PBS) | PBS |
| N08 | Pintasan | new seat | new seat | PN (BERSATU) |
| N11 | Kadamaian | | BN (UPKO) | UPKO |
| N12 | Sulaman | | BN (UMNO) | PN (BERSATU) |
| N13 | Pantai Dalit | new seat | new seat | BN (UMNO) |
| N14 | Tamparuli | | BN (PBS) | PBS |
| N15 | Kiulu | | BN (PBS) | PBS |
| N16 | Karambunai | | WARISAN | BN (UMNO) |
| N17 | Darau | new seat | new seat | WARISAN |
| N24 | Tanjung Keramat | new seat | new seat | BN (UMNO) |
| N27 | Limbahau | new seat | new seat | WARISAN |
| N28 | Kawang | | BN (UMNO) | PN (BERSATU) |
| N29 | Pantai Manis | | WARISAN | BN (UMNO) |
| N31 | Membakut | | BN (UMNO) | PN (BERSATU) |
| N32 | Klias | | BN (UMNO) | PN (BERSATU) |
| N33 | Kuala Penyu | | BN (UPKO) | PN (BERSATU) |
| N34 | Lumadan | | BN (UMNO) | PBS |
| N36 | Kundasang | | BN (PBS) | PBS |
| N37 | Karanaan | | BN (UMNO) | PN (BERSATU) |
| N38 | Paginatan | | BN (UPKO) | PN (STAR) |
| N39 | Tambunan | | STAR | PN (STAR) |
| N40 | Bingkor | | STAR | PN (STAR) |
| N41 | Liawan | | WARISAN | PN (STAR) |
| N43 | Kemabong | | BN (UMNO) | Independent |
| N44 | Tulid | new seat | new seat | PN (STAR) |
| N45 | Sook | | BN (PBRS) | PN (STAR) |
| N46 | Nabawan | | BN (UPKO) | PN (BERSATU) |
| N47 | Telupid | new seat | new seat | PBS |
| N49 | Labuk | | BN (PBS) | PN (BERSATU) |
| N51 | Sungai Manila | new seat | new seat | BN (UMNO) |
| N57 | Kuamut | | BN (UPKO) | Independent |
| N58 | Lamag | new seat | new seat | BN (UMNO) |
| N61 | Segama | new seat | new seat | WARISAN |
| N68 | Apas | | BN (UMNO) | PN (BERSATU) |
| N70 | Kukusan | new seat | new seat | WARISAN |
| N73 | Sebatik | | BN (UMNO) | WARISAN |

## Election pendulum

The 14th general election witnessed 29 seats from the government side and 31 seats from the non-government side filled the State Legislative Assembly. This count, however, did not include 6 seats from United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) and 4 from United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) that switched allegiance from Musa to Shafie. The government side has 11 safe seats and 4 fairly safe seats, while the non-government side has 2 safe seats and 5 fairly safe seats.

## Aftermath

The GRS governing coalition formed in September 2020 after the victory consists of
* United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (14) :Barisan National Party seat – Won 14 seats
* Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) (11), Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR) (6) : Perikatan Nasional – Won 17 seats
* With support from United Sabah Party (PBS) (7).
Warisan saw a gain of 2 more seats from its previous 21 seats in the 2018 election. While its ally PKR and DAP retained their number of seats with 2 and 6 respectively. Warisan also made history by becoming the first and only single party in Sabah to not govern the state despite winning the most seats overall.
On the other side, STAR, led by Jeffrey Kitingan won 6 seats compared to 2 in the previous election, with most of the seats won hailing from the interior of Sabah which is dominated by the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) community. UPKO, even though representing the KDM community, managed only 1 seat in this election, a loss from 6 seats in the previous election.
PPBM or Bersatu, despite being a Malay-based party from West Malaysia and contesting in Sabah for the first time, won 11 seats.
The elected assemblywoman for Bugaya, Manis Muka Mohd Darah from WARISAN later passed away in November 2020, triggering a by-election which was not held until November 2022, concurrently with the 2022 Malaysian general election. A few elected assemblymen also changed parties after the election; see List of seats that changed allegiance in Sabah after state election 2020.

### COVID-19 pandemic

Following the Sabah state government's announcement on 9 August that the state election would be held on 26 September, several members of the public and democracy observers urged local authorities to consider postal voting due to the ongoing pandemic and in order to reduce virus transmissions during the election. On 21 August, the High Court dismissed an appeal by 33 Sabah assemblymen against Governor Juhar Mahiruddin's consent for the dissolution of Sabah's legislative assembly, allowing the state election to go ahead. On 11 September, the Federal Court dismissed Datuk Jahid Noordin Jahim's appeal to stop the election, allowing nominations to proceed the following day.
The return of voters and politicians from Sabah to Peninsular Malaysia has caused a significant influx of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Daily reported cases increased to three digit numbers. Several of these ministers and politicians had reportedly not complied with standard procedures around COVID-19. On 14 October, the Federal Government announced the implementation of a Conditional Movement Control Order in Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur due to the rising number of cases.

### Effects of the 2022 general election

Following the results of the Malaysian general election in November 2022, and the formation of government consisting of the alliance between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, GRS announced their inclusion into the alliance (despite GRS members Bersatu, SAPP and STAR aligning with Perikatan Nasional at the time), and signed a cooperation agreement with other parties involved on 16 December 2022. On 10 December 2022, MLAs and MPs from Bersatu Sabah announced they will quit the party and become direct member of GRS, in line of the coalition at federal level. On 17 December 2022, GRS officially expelled Bersatu from the coalition. STAR, another member party of both GRS and PN, announced its exit from PN on 5 December 2022. SAPP is the only member party of both GRS and PN as of December 2022, however the party leader Yong Teck Lee announced its exit from PN in December 2024.
Aside from the change above, the status quo is not changed for the government in Sabah. Even though PH and WARISAN is allied with GRS at federal level, they are still opposition to the GRS-led administration at state level.

### 2023 political crisis

The 2023 Sabah political crisis or widely reported on local media as Langkah Kinabalu or the Kinabalu Move, began on 6 January 2023, when the state government of Sabah led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) collapsed when its coalition party Barisan Nasional (BN) withdrew its support. The Leader of UMNO Sabah, a component party of BN, Bung Moktar Radin, Kinabatangan Member of Parliament (MP) and Lamag Assemblyman, cited a lack of confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister of Sabah Hajiji Noor in the withdrawal. UMNO Sabah want to change support from supporting GRS coalition to supporting the WARISAN Plus coalition. On 9 January, both Malaysian leaders, prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi travelled to Kota Kinabalu to meet with Sabah political leaders. This crisis resulted in the approval of the Anti-Switching Parties Law in Sabah (approved in 25 May 2023).