Tulid sees 14 contenders, over 10 challengers in 22 other seats
SABAH POLLS | The Tulid state seat, first introduced in 2020, has emerged as the most hotly contested in the 17th Sabah state election, with 14 candidates confirmed after nominations closed this morning.
The crowded field includes Pakatan Harapan’s Rufinah Pengeran, Vinson Rusikan (Parti Kebangsaan Sabah), Lucia Khing (Warisan), Evaritus Gungkit (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku), Khairil Abdullah (Upko), Ancis @ Rayner Francis Udog (Parti Impian Sabah)...
SABAH POLLS | The Tulid state seat, first introduced in 2020, has emerged as the most hotly contested in the 17th Sabah state election, with 14 candidates confirmed after nominations closed this morning.
The crowded field includes Pakatan Harapan’s Rufinah Pengeran, Vinson Rusikan (Parti Kebangsaan Sabah), Lucia Khing (Warisan), Evaritus Gungkit (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku), Khairil Abdullah (Upko), Ancis @ Rayner Francis Udog (Parti Impian Sabah), Jufina Dimis (Parti Rumpun Sabah), and Dr Aisat Ellik Igau Inggau (Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat).
They are joined by six independent candidates - Suman @ Sunsunah Yasambun, Clarence Carter Maraat, Edwin Laimin, Jordan Jude Ellron, Engah Sintan @ Dahlan Abdullah, and Lautis @ Laulis Anggang.
Tulid has 16,551 voters. In the 16th state election, the seat was won by Star’s Flovia Ng with a 544-vote majority.
Bandau, Tamparuli and Inanam are also seeing intense 13-cornered fights, while Banggi records a 12-way contest.
Six seats have 11-cornered battles - Bengkoka, Tanjong Kapor, Karambunai, Tanjung Keramat, Balung and Pintasan, where Usno president Pandikar Amin Mulia is in the running.
The former Dewan Rakyat speaker, contesting under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), faces BN’s Tadzul Radim, Awang Salleh Makmud (PN), Raplin Samat (Star), Abdullah Otong (Warisan), Lomog Rudin @ Efejus Rudin (PIS), Almudin Kiada (KDM) and four independents - Syarif Shukree Danchingan, Fairuz Renddan, Tajuddin Padis and Rizal Saiman.
Overall candidates
Six-cornered contests - the most common configuration in this election - are seen in 13 seats: Pitas, Matunggong, Usukan, Darau, Likas, Kuala Penyu, Lumadan, Sungai Manila, Sekong, Lamag, Kunak, Apas, and Sri Tanjong.
The smallest contests are in Senallang and Merotai, each with four candidates.
Caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor is also in the spotlight as he faces a five-cornered contest in Sulaman, a seat he has held since 1990.
Overall, a total of 596 candidates - 525 men and 71 women - filed their nominations at 25 nomination centres for 73 state seats this morning.
Of the number of candidates, nearly half or 205, are aged above 60, while only 67 are youths below 40.
From the 24 contesting parties and coalitions, local-based PKS has fielded the oldest and youngest candidates - an 86-year-old in Bingkor, and a 24-year-old in Silam.
The Election Commission has set Nov 29 for polling, with early voting on Nov 25.
