KUALA LUMPUR — Following the dissolution of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly on Monday, Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has urged the Election Commission (EC) to avoid setting nomination and voting days on religious observance days such as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
He stressed that scheduling elections on these days does not align with the first principle of the Rukun Negara, which is “Belief in God.”
“Friday is a day of worship for Muslims; Saturday is observed by Seventh-Day Adventists and the True Jesus Church; while Sunday is the holy day for other Christian denominations, including Roman Catholics and Protestants,” he said in a statement today.
“I suggest that nomination and voting be held on weekdays, from Monday to Thursday, in order to show respect for Malaysia's religious diversity,” he added.
Madius further pointed out that the Rukun Negara clearly mandates that followers of all religions should be given the space and respect to practise their faith without interference from other activities, including elections.
“When we aspire to uphold a principle, we must embody and live by it. Likewise, the Rukun Negara is not just an oath we recite, but a guiding principle for our nation,” Madius said.
The Honourary President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) referred to past elections where voting had been conducted on non-religious days.
“For example, the 14th General Election on May 9, 2018, was held on a Wednesday, while the Permatang Pauh by-election on May 7, 2015, was held on a Thursday. Both were conducted smoothly.”
“However, some recent elections were held on religious days, such as the 15th General Election (GE15) on November 19, 2022, and the candidate nomination on November 5, 2022, both of which fell on a Saturday. The holding of elections on religious days causes difficulties for those who observe religious rites on these days,” he stressed.
Madius further referenced Indonesia as an example of a country that upholds its Pancasila principles, which reflect both spiritual values and social harmony.
“If we truly respect the Rukun Negara, we must ensure that every decision reflects the values we uphold. Respecting the worship days of all religions is a part of Belief in God,” Madius concluded.
Earlier today, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly was officially dissolved, clearing the way for the 17th state election to take place within the next two months.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor made the announcement after receiving the consent of the state’s governor, Tun Musa Aman.
He confirmed the dissolution during a press conference following a meeting with state leaders and backbenchers at Menara Kinabalu, the state government's administrative hub, as reported by Bernama.
Hajiji, who leads the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and leaders from both ruling and allied parties, including the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, and Parti Cinta Sabah.
Opposition figures from Pakatan Harapan (PH), including state chairman Datuk Ewon Benedick and Sabah DAP leader Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, were also present.
Sabah’s legislature consists of 79 seats, of which 73 are elected and six appointed. In the last state election in 2020, GRS and its allies secured 41 seats, defeating Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), which won 23. PH took nine seats.
The political landscape has shifted significantly since then. GRS was formally registered in March 2022, initially comprising Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).
By November 2022, Hajiji and other leaders left Bersatu to form Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, and Bersatu was removed from the coalition. In January the following year, Barisan Nasional (BN) withdrew its support, but PH stepped in to bolster Hajiji’s administration.
More recently, STAR and SAPP opted to contest the upcoming polls under their own party logos rather than the GRS emblem, effectively leaving the coalition.
As it stands, GRS holds 42 seats through its remaining members – Gagasan Rakyat, PBS, USNO, LDP, Harapan Rakyat, and PCS.
The opposition bloc consists of Warisan with 14 seats, BN with 12, PH with seven, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat with two, and PAS with one. The Sungai Sibuga seat is vacant following the death of its BN incumbent, Datuk Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain, in January.
The Election Commission is expected to announce polling dates in the coming days. - October 6, 2025
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