Barisan Nasional faced major defeats in yesterday’s Sabah state election, losing several long-held seats and seeing its influence shrink further.
Only Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin managed to retain his Lamag seat among the coalition’s top leaders.
Prominent Leaders Fall
Former chief minister Salleh Said Keruak lost in Usukan, while Sabah Umno information chief Suhaimi Nasir and election director Jeffrey Nor Mohamed were defeated in Sungai Sibuga and Tanjung Keramat.
Traditional strongholds such as Tempasuk, Sugut, Balung, and Tanjung Batu also slipped from BN’s grasp.
Decade of Decline Continues
BN’s presence in Sabah has steadily weakened over the past decade, with seat numbers dropping sharply from 59 out of 60 in 2008 to just six this time.
The exodus of key local leaders and component parties like Upko and Parti Bersatu Sabah has contributed to the erosion of its once-dominant support base.
The rise of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-aligned candidates has further eaten into Umno’s traditional voter strongholds.
Former Umno figures, including GRS chairman Hajiji Noor and secretary-general Masidi Manjun, comfortably defended their Sulaman and Karanaan seats.
MCA candidates in Tanjong Kapor and Karamunting were also soundly beaten by GRS and Warisan opponents.
One Bright Spot for BN
Amid the losses, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah president Arthur Joseph Kurup brought some cheer by recapturing the Sook seat from GRS’s Ellron Alfred Angin.
Ellron had held the seat for PBRS from 2008 to 2018 before leaving the party.
However, PBRS failed to win Kundasang, which went to PBS president Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
