Sabah PKR will not pursue the chief minister’s position and will support a candidate from one of its electoral allies following the state election, according to state party chief Mustapha Sakmud.
The party’s primary goal is to secure as many seats as possible to bolster the state government.
Alliance Seat Allocation
“Our objective is to ensure we have a stable state government. Which is why PKR is contesting 10 seats, while DAP will be vying for seven seats, and Amanah eying one seat,” Mustapha said in an interview with FMT.
The identity of Sabah’s next chief minister will depend on the election results.
Pakatan Harapan has formed separate agreements with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Barisan Nasional. Although BN allies with PH at the federal level, it serves as the opposition in Sabah.
Speculation on Leadership Dismissed
Earlier this month, Utusan Malaysia reported that Ruji Ubi, a former secretary-general for the unity ministry, rejected rumours of his potential appointment as chief minister if PH-GRS emerges victorious in the November 29 polls.
Ruji, contesting the Merotai seat, emphasised that the priority lies in securing victory for his party.
Mustapha’s Decision to Step Back
On another note, Mustapha explained his choice to skip the Sabah polls, unlike other party leaders.
He aims to concentrate on his roles as Sepanggar MP and deputy higher education minister.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who also leads PKR, urged him to prioritise governmental and parliamentary duties, which carry significant responsibilities.
Balancing Ambitions and Duties
“I was at one time keen on contesting in Tempasuk,” Mustapha said, noting that he had visited the constituency to lay groundwork for the election.
“But after several months of dividing my time between Tempasuk, Sepanggar and ministerial duties, I found my ambition to be difficult.”
After careful consideration, he opted not to run for the seat, where he had faced defeats in the 2018 and 2020 elections.
“But I will help PKR win the 10 seats,” he added.
Tempasuk Contest Outlook
Tempasuk is set for a multi-cornered battle involving GRS candidate Arsad Bistari, Warisan’s Khidir Lamsil, and Kota Belud Umno chief Azwan Norjan.
In the 2020 state election, Arsad secured the seat under the BN banner with a 1685-vote majority. He later supported chief minister Hajiji Noor’s government amid a 2023 attempt to remove Hajiji.
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