Several Sabah ministers including Shahelmey Yahya have been dropped as candidates for the upcoming state election, creating unexpected political shifts.
KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya is among several Sabah Cabinet members excluded from candidate lists for the upcoming state election.
Shahelmey, who also serves as Sabah’s Works Minister, previously won the Tanjung Keramat seat with a 1,124-vote majority under Barisan Nasional.
BN has instead named Sabah UMNO election director Jeffery Nor Mohamed as their Tanjung Keramat candidate.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah selected Shah Alfie Yahya, Shahelmey’s younger brother, for the same constituency.
Shahelmey and Kalabakan MP Andi Muhammad Suryady had their UMNO membership suspended for six years in 2023 after opposing Sabah UMNO’s decision to withdraw support from Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Tourism Minister Datuk Christina Liew, who won Api-Api with a 5,347-vote majority, was also omitted from PKR’s candidate list.
PKR named Sri Pelacongan CEO Thonny Chee as their Api-Api candidate instead.
Industrial Development Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe will contest Likas seat after previously winning Luyang with a 14,521-vote majority.
Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim’s candidacy remains uncertain as GRS has not announced their Tamparuli candidate.
Chief Minister Hajiji, who won Sulaman with a 3,099-vote majority, will defend his seat.
The Election Commission set November 29 as polling day, with nominations on November 15 and early voting on November 25. – Bernama