# 2025 Sabah state election

The 2025 Sabah state election, formally the 17th Sabah general election, will elect the 17th Sabah State Legislative Assembly. It must be held by 6 December 2025 at the latest, persuant to clause 21(4) of the Constitution of Sabah. This date is dependent on when the 16th Legislative Assembly first sat, which is October 9 2020, and so the latest date on which the election could be held is December 8 2025 (exactly 60 days after when the Assembly would be automatically dissolved). All 73 seats will be up for contests, presuming no constituencies are added or removed in a redistribution.

## Background

Traditionally, state elections are held simultaneously with the parliamentary election but each state can decide when to hold its election. This is because state assemblies are dissolved by their respective ruler or governor on the advice of the chief minister of the state.
With the formation of the unity government, every single party in Sabah is a part of that government. However at the state level, there are discrepancies whereby Warisan and Barisan Nasional are not a part of the coalition. Yet the present practice for the unity government would be that of a seat negotiation, or an unsigned electoral pact where no two parties would send candidates, only a single candidate would be sent from the unity government. It remains to be seen how at the state level such cooperation would play out.

## Electoral system

Elections in Malaysia are conducted at the federal and state levels. Federal elections elect members of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament, while state elections in each of the 13 states elect members of their respective state legislative assembly. As Malaysia follows the Westminster system of government, the head of government (Prime Minister at the federal level and the Menteri Besar/Chief Ministers/Premier at the state level) is the person who commands the confidence of the majority of members in the respective legislature – this is normally the leader of the party or coalition with the majority of seats in the legislature.
The Legislative Assembly consists of 73 members, known as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), that are elected for five-year terms. Each MLA is elected from a single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post voting system; each constituency contains approximately an equal number of voters. If one party obtains a majority of seats, then that party is entitled to form the government, with its leader becoming the Chief Minister. In the event of a hung parliament, where no single party obtains the majority of seats, the government may still form through a coalition or a confidence and supply agreement with other parties. In practice, coalitions and alliances in Malaysia, and by extension, in Sabah, generally persist between elections, and member parties do not normally contest for the same seats.
The voting age is currently 18. Elections are conducted by the Election Commission of Malaysia, which is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Department. Malaysia practices automatic voter registration but does not practice compulsory voting.

## Preparations

On 27 March 2024, State Chairman of Barisan Nasional (BN) and United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) of Sabah Bung Moktar Radin dismissed the possibility of Sabah BN to work with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition led by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji meanwhile, said that GRS is open to collaboration from other parties, but insists that the preference is working together with Pakatan Harapan (PH), who joined the Sabah government after BN withdrawal during the 2023 Sabah political crisis. Parti Warisan Sabah (WARISAN) also were interested in cooperating with GRS for the elections, but according to its president Shafie Apdal, its invitation to discuss such collaborations were turned down by GRS several times.
Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional (PN) have announced its intention to contest all 73 state seats in its first foray into the state, the move which led to Sabah Progressive Party's (SAPP) exit from PN, as announced by party leader Yong Teck Lee in December 2024, as SAPP insists that only party which has origins in Sabah are allowed to contest the election. SAPP will contest the election under GRS, the local coalition which it is a component in parallel with PN since 2020. This is the first time PN contesting the election under its own banner, although its component party Sabah BERSATU have contested and won seats before, under PH (PKR) and GRS in the 2018 and 2020 state elections respectively. PAS and Gerakan also have contested in Sabah before, with Gerakan having won seats under BN banner.
On 15 December 2024, Social Democratic Harmony Party (KDM), through its President Peter Anthony also confirmed that the party would contest the election as a party, without being in a coalition and working together with other parties, targeting 43 state seats. Anthony, who is also the Melalap MLA however, announced that he would not contest the election and defend the Melalap state seat in the election, in view of the pending appeal to his court case.
On 15 January 2025, PN, through its Deputy Chairman Hamzah Zainudin launched the slogan 'Kasi Bagus Sabah' (Make Sabah Better in English) as part of its preparations for contesting the election.
On 16 January 2025, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), through its President Wee Ka Siong, confirmed that the party would contest in the election.

## Candidates

| No. | Parliamentary constituency | No. | State Constituency | Incumbent Member | Incumbent Coalition (Party) | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions | Political coalitions and respective candidates and coalitions |
| No. | Parliamentary constituency | No. | State Constituency | Incumbent Member | Incumbent Coalition (Party) | GRS | GRS | WARISAN | WARISAN | BN | BN | PH | PH | PN | PN | KDM | KDM | Others | Others |
| No. | Parliamentary constituency | No. | State Constituency | Incumbent Member | Incumbent Coalition (Party) | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party | Candidate name | Party |
| P167 | Kudat | N01 | Banggi | Mohammad Mohamarin | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P167 | Kudat | N02 | Bengkoka | Harun Durabi | BN (UMNO) | | | | WARISAN | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | KDM | | |
| P167 | Kudat | N03 | Pitas | Ruddy Awah | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P167 | Kudat | N04 | Tanjong Kapor | Ben Chong Chen Bin | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | Verdon Bahanda | Independent |
| P168 | Kota Marudu | N05 | Matunggong | Julita Majungki | GRS (PBS) | | GRS (PBS) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P168 | Kota Marudu | N06 | Bandau | Wetrom Bahanda | KDM | | | | | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | KDM | | |
| P168 | Kota Marudu | N07 | Tandek | Hendrus Anding | GRS (PBS) | | GRS (PBS) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P169 | Kota Belud | N08 | Pintasan | Fairuz Renddan | GRS (GAGASAN) | Fairuz Renddan | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | KDM | | |
| P169 | Kota Belud | N09 | Tempasuk | Mohd Arsad Bistari | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | | | |
| P169 | Kota Belud | N10 | Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak | BN (UMNO) | | | | | Salleh Said Keruak | BN (UMNO) | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | KDM | | |
| P169 | Kota Belud | N11 | Kadamaian | Ewon Benedick | PH (UPKO) | | | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P170 | Tuaran | N12 | Sulaman | Hajiji Noor | GRS (GAGASAN) | Hajiji Noor | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |
| P170 | Tuaran | N13 | Pantai Dalit | Jasnih Daya | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P170 | Tuaran | N14 | Tamparuli | Jahid Jahim | GRS (PBS) | Jahid Jahim | GRS (PBS) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P170 | Tuaran | N15 | Kiulu | Joniston Bangkuai | GRS (PBS) | | GRS (PBS) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P171 | Sepanggar | N16 | Karambunai | Yakub Khan | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | PN (PAS) | | | | |
| P171 | Sepanggar | N17 | Darau | Azhar Matussin | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P171 | Sepanggar | N18 | Inanam | Peto Galim | PH (PKR) | | | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P172 | Kota Kinabalu | N19 | Likas | Tan Lee Fatt | PH (DAP) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P172 | Kota Kinabalu | N20 | Api-Api | Christina Liew Chin Jin | PH (PKR) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| P172 | Kota Kinabalu | N21 | Luyang | Ginger Phoong Jin Zhe | PH (DAP) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P173 | Putatan | N22 | Tanjung Aru | Junz Wong | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P173 | Putatan | N23 | Petagas | Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P173 | Putatan | N24 | Tanjung Keramat | Shahelmey Yahya | BN (UMNO) | | | | | Jeffrey Nor Mohamed | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | | Shahelmey Yahya | Unknown |
| P174 | Penampang | N25 | Kapayan | Jannie Lasimbang | PH (DAP) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P174 | Penampang | N26 | Moyog | Darell Leiking | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P175 | Papar | N27 | Limbahau | Juil Nuatim | GRS | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P175 | Papar | N28 | Kawang | Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |
| P175 | Papar | N29 | Pantai Manis | Mohd Tamin Zainal | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | | | |
| P176 | Kimanis | N30 | Bongawan | Daud Yusof | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P176 | Kimanis | N31 | Membakut | Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |
| P177 | Beaufort | N32 | Klias | Isnin Aliasnih | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | KDM | | |
| P177 | Beaufort | N33 | Kuala Penyu | Limus Jury | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | KDM | | |
| P178 | Sipitang | N34 | Lumadan | Ruslan Muharam | GRS (PBS) | | GRS (PBS) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P178 | Sipitang | N35 | Sindumin | Yusof Yacob | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P179 | Ranau | N36 | Kundasang | Joachim Gunsalam | GRS (PBS) | | GRS (PBS) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P179 | Ranau | N37 | Karanaan | Masidi Manjun | GRS (GAGASAN) | Masidi Manjun | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | KDM | | |
| P179 | Ranau | N38 | Paginatan | Abidin Madingkir | GRS (STAR) | | GRS (STAR) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P180 | Keningau | N39 | Tambunan | Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan | GRS (STAR) | Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan | GRS (STAR) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P180 | Keningau | N40 | Bingkor | Robert Tawik | GRS (STAR) | | GRS (STAR) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P180 | Keningau | N41 | Liawan | Annuar Ayub Aman | GRS (STAR) | | GRS (STAR) | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P181 | Tenom | N42 | Melalap | Vacant | VAC | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P181 | Tenom | N43 | Kemabong | Rubin Balang | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P182 | Pensiangan | N44 | Tulid | Flovia Ng | GRS (STAR) | | GRS (STAR) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P182 | Pensiangan | N45 | Sook | Ellron Alfred Angin | GRS (STAR) | | GRS (STAR) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P182 | Pensiangan | N46 | Nabawan | Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | KDM | | |
| P183 | Beluran | N47 | Telupid | Jonnybone Kurum | GRS (PBS) | | GRS (PBS) | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P183 | Beluran | N48 | Sugut | James Ratib | GRS (GAGASAN) | James Ratib | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P183 | Beluran | N49 | Labuk | Samad Jambri | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | KDM | | |
| P184 | Libaran | N50 | Gum-Gum | Arunarsin Taib | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |
| P184 | Libaran | N51 | Sungai Manila | Mokran Ingkat | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | | | |
| P184 | Libaran | N52 | Sungai Sibuga | Vacant | VAC | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | | | |
| P185 | Batu Sapi | N53 | Sekong | Alias Sani | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P185 | Batu Sapi | N54 | Karamunting | George Hiew Vun Zin | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P186 | Sandakan | N55 | Elopura | Calvin Chong Ket Kiun | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P186 | Sandakan | N56 | Tanjong Papat | Frankie Poon Ming Fung | PH (DAP) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P187 | Kinabatangan | N57 | Kuamut | Masiung Banah | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P187 | Kinabatangan | N58 | Lamag | Bung Moktar Radin | BN (UMNO) | | | | | Bung Moktar Radin | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | KDM | | |
| P187 | Kinabatangan | N59 | Sukau | Jafry Ariffin | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | | | |
| P188 | Lahad Datu | N60 | Tungku | Assaffal P. Alian | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P188 | Lahad Datu | N61 | Segama | Mohammadin Ketapi | BN (UMNO) | | | | WARISAN | | BN (UMNO) | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |
| P188 | Lahad Datu | N62 | Silam | Dumi Pg Masdal | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |
| P188 | Lahad Datu | N63 | Kunak | Norazlinah Arif | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | WARISAN | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | | | |
| P189 | Semporna | N64 | Sulabayan | Jaujan Sambakong | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P189 | Semporna | N65 | Senallang | Shafie Apdal | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |
| P189 | Semporna | N66 | Bugaya | Jamil Hamzah | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P190 | Tawau | N67 | Balung | Hamid Awang | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | | | |
| P190 | Tawau | N68 | Apas | Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |
| P190 | Tawau | N69 | Sri Tanjong | Justin Wong Yung Bin | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P191 | Kalabakan | N70 | Kukusan | Rina Jainal | GRS (PHRS) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | | | | | |
| P191 | Kalabakan | N71 | Tanjong Batu | Andi Muhammad Suryandy Bandy | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | BN (UMNO) | | | | | | | | |
| P191 | Kalabakan | N72 | Merotai | Sarifuddin Hata | WARISAN | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |
| P191 | Kalabakan | N73 | Sebatik | Hassan A. Gani Pg. Amir | GRS (GAGASAN) | | | | WARISAN | | | | | | PN (BERSATU) | | | | |

## Departing incumbents

The following members of the 16th State Legislative Assembly will not participate in this election.
| No. | State Constituency | Departing MLA | Party | Date confirmed | First elected | Reason |
| N52 | Sungai Sibuga | Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain | BN (UMNO) | 19 January 2025 | 2020 | Death |
| N42 | Melalap | Peter Anthony | KDM | 4 March 2025 | 2018 | Imprisonment |