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SABAH Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is expected to announce the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today, setting the stage for the 17th Sabah state election (PRN17), likely to be held within 60 days.
The anticipated announcement is expected to take place at Menara Kinabalu this morning during a special press conference following Hajiji’s audience with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah, Tun Musa Aman. The meeting is apparently to seek consent to dissolve the DUN.
Earlier, Hajiji – who is also chairman of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) – was seen arriving at Seri Kinabalu Palace at approximately 8.51am. Media representatives had gathered outside the palace from as early as 7.30am to await confirmation of the political development.
As of Friday, the Chief Minister’s Office had not issued official invitations to a press conference, although it had signalled one would be held "at the appropriate time."
Currently, GRS leads the state government in partnership with Pakatan Harapan (PH) and three Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen, commanding a total of 53 seats, including four appointed members.
The opposition bloc, led by Warisan, together with BN and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), holds 22 seats, including two appointed assemblymen.
Two state seats are presently vacant. One, Sungai Sibuga, fell vacant following the death of Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Mohd Hamsan Awang Supain in January.
The second, Melalap, became vacant in September after former assemblyman Datuk Peter Anthony failed to file a royal pardon petition within 14 days of the Court of Appeal upholding his conviction and three-year prison sentence for falsifying documents related to a maintenance contract at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Meanwhile, in a significant development last week, GRS Secretary-General Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun confirmed that Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) had exited the coalition and would contest PRN17 independently.
The decision was finalised during the GRS presidential council meeting chaired by Hajiji at Sri Gaya on Wednesday.
According to the statement, both STAR and SAPP had opted out of the coalition to avoid being bound by the seat allocation arrangements to be agreed between GRS and PH.
The announcement clarified that their GRS membership was automatically terminated but did not confirm whether the two parties would continue supporting the state government. - October 6, 2025