1994 Sabah state election
The 1994 Sabah state election was held between Friday, 18 February and Saturday, 19 February 1994. Nomination day was 7 February 1994. The election was one of the most controversial election in Sabah's political history. The election was won by the incumbent ruling party (although the opposition at federal level) Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), winning 25 state electorates against 23 won by the federal government's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. However, due to defections by elected PBS assemblymen by way of establishments of new parties aligned to BN shortly after the election, PBS was forced  out of power resulting in BN forming government in Sabah. The outcome of this election and the defections resulted in the term "katak" being coined in, the literal meaning of which is "frog", due to the actions of PBS members "jumping" to another political party. After the election, PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan was sworn in as chief minister of Sabah. However, as a result of defections of PBS assemblymen to the BN, Pairin was forced to resign on 17 March 1994. PBS was left with 5 seats. Bernard Dompok formed PDS with 18 seats joined BN (PDS later changed  name to UPKO). Joseph Kurup left PBS and formed PBRS. Jeffery Kitingan also left PBS and joined AKAR. Before the election, PBS had already produced 2 splinters, SAPP and AKAR, both which had contested under BN. Results. ! | Party ! |Candidates ! |Vote ! |Seats ! |Votes ! |% ! |Won ! |% ! |+/– Source: