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A SPECIAL meeting will be convened soon to determine key dates for the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17), following the official dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly earlier today.
Election Commission (EC) Chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun confirmed that preparations are already underway in accordance with Article 21(4) of the Sabah State Constitution, which stipulates that an election must be held within 60 days of dissolution.
“The EC takes note of the announcement regarding the dissolution of the 16th Sabah State Assembly,” he said. “We are fully prepared to carry out the election and will announce the date of a special meeting to finalise the important timelines for PRN17 soon.”
Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor earlier confirmed the dissolution, setting the stage for an election expected to reshape the state's political landscape amid shifting alliances.
In the interim, the existing state government will function as a caretaker administration, restricted to routine governance and barred from introducing new policies or making large-scale financial decisions until a new government is formed.
Speaking after the announcement, Hajiji reiterated his commitment to maintaining the alliance between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Pakatan Harapan (PH), citing strong federal-state relations under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as vital to Sabah’s progress.
“For your information, the Sabah government today is a GRS-PH government,” he said. “This cooperation has resulted in nine power transfers under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) — the most we have ever secured. This happened under the current Prime Minister.”
Hajiji underlined that working in alignment with the federal government brings significant benefits. “Why should we fight the federal government when it is also our government?” he asked.
“While we assert our rights as a state, we must also protect national interests. There is no value in defending Sabah’s rights if we destroy the country in the process.”
His comments followed the departure of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) from the GRS coalition, after both parties opted to contest PRN17 under their own logos, reportedly due to concerns over the alliance with PH.
Hajiji confirmed that any party choosing to run under a different banner would no longer be considered part of GRS.
“We held a meeting, and STAR along with SAPP chose to use their own logos. According to the GRS Presidential Council, any party contesting under a separate banner is automatically no longer part of GRS,” he said.
With STAR and SAPP now outside the coalition, they are free to contest any seat, including those claimed by GRS and PH.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said seat negotiations between the GRS and PH are nearing finalisation, and that GRS campaign machinery would support PH candidates in relevant constituencies.
When asked about the timing of the dissolution, Hajiji joked that he had “dreamt” of today as the right day — a nod to his earlier remarks that the decision would come once he had such a dream.
Until a new government is elected, Hajiji will serve as caretaker Chief Minister. - October 6, 2025