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BARISAN Nasional (BN) Sabah will introduce a significant number of new and young candidates in the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17), as part of a strategy to refresh its political image and align more closely with the aspirations of Sabahans.
Speaking after chairing the first Sabah BN meeting following the dissolution of the state assembly, BN Sabah Chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said 81 per cent of the candidates fielded will be newcomers, with youth candidates making up 50 per cent of that number.
“Of that 81 per cent, 50 per cent are youths. That’s already decided, though specific names are still being finalised. There will also be 30 per cent women candidates,” he told reporters at UMNO Sabah headquarters.
BN Sabah has proposed to contest 48 state assembly seats, with seat distribution talks with coalition partners including Pakatan Harapan (PH) nearing conclusion.
Bung confirmed that discussions also involve component parties such as the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), with attention given to ensuring ethnic and gender balance among candidates.
He acknowledged the complexity of the political dynamics this time around, particularly with PH cooperating both with BN at the federal level and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) at the state level.
“There’s no major issue, just complications. Some uncertainty. But we discussed it with great enthusiasm. God willing, we will find an approach to resolve it,” he said.
He further remarked, “This Sabah election is dynamic, and its dynamism may cause some complications. We’ll wait and see. If necessary, we’ll do what is best for the party.”
While not disclosing how many seats PH has requested, Bung Moktar suggested the number was substantial. “I’m not exactly sure, but it’s quite a number. We’ve already reached some agreement, and there are only a few more seats to finalise.”
On candidate selection, he said BN Sabah is determined to avoid repeat incidents of party-hopping, which plagued the aftermath of the last state election.
“We will make certain agreements with the candidates, and I am confident that this time, we will choose individuals who are loyal and unwavering even under political pressure. Even when in the opposition, they didn’t waver. So I believe they are not like those traitorous candidates from before,” he said.
Bung Moktar reiterated that UMNO Sabah retains full autonomy in making political decisions for the state.
“We are UMNO with full 100 per cent autonomy — we are not a party from Malaya. Hopefully, they support us because we support them at the federal level. We help them with 30 seats; GRS only has six. So they can decide which carries more weight,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the positive working relationship between BN and PH at the federal level would benefit BN Sabah on the ground, despite the possibility of overlapping contests in some constituencies.
As for the involvement of other component parties in the upcoming polls, he confirmed that allocations within the proposed 48 seats would include space for all partners.
“It’s not yet finalised, but there’s room for all components within the 48 seats we’re contesting,” he said.
In conclusion, Bung Moktar affirmed BN Sabah’s commitment to contesting the state election with credible, tested, and loyal candidates who reflect the coalition’s rejuvenated image and readiness to govern responsibly. - October 14, 2025