PERIKATAN Nasional, Barisan Nasional and their ally PBS will clash against one another in 17 out of 73 state seats in the Sabah elections.

At the close of nominations today, PBS topped the list by competing against its allies in 16 seats.

PBS will contest against Umno in new seats Bengkoka (N2) and Telupid (N47), Tg Aru (22), Lumadan (N34), Paginatan (N38) and Melalap (N42).

Except for Lumadan, which was won by Umno in the last election, all the others were seats won by Warisan and Upko.

Besides Umno, PBS will also clash with Star in five seats, PBRS (4), MCA (2) and Bersatu (1).

Bersatu and Star are from Perikatan, while PBRS, Umno and MCA are from BN.

The clashes against PBRS are in Matunggong (N5), Tandek (N7), Kadamaian (N11) and new seat Tulid (N44).

All eyes will be on Tulid as PBRS, Star and PBS are all vying for it in a seven-cornered fight.

Besides Tulid (N44), PBS will tussle with Star over Paginatan (N38), Tambunan (N39), Bingkor (N40) and Liawan (N41).

Tambunan is held by Star president Jeffrey Kitingan while Bingkor was won by Star’s Robert Tawik Nordin in the last polls.

PBS will clash with MCA for Kapayan (N25) and Karamunting (N54), while it will tussle with Star for Moyog (N26).

The only “friendly” clash that does not involve PBS is for Sook, where the contest is between PBRS and Star.

The opposition in Sabah comprises Perikatan Nasional, BN and PBS, while the Warisan Plus government coalition consists of Warisan Sabah, Pakatan Harapan and Upko.

In the Sabah election, Perikatan is represented by Bersatu, Star and SAPP, while BN is represented by Umno, MCA and PBRS.

Campaigning for the Sabah election began today with nominations, and polling is set for September 26. 

According to the Election Commission, 1.12 million voters are registered to vote in the election.

The state assembly was dissolved last month after a failed attempt by Perikatan and BN to take over the state, in which 13 assemblymen quit the Warisan government.

This morning, Bersatu chief Muhyiddin Yassin said the opposition in Sabah will form a new coalition government called Gabungan Rakyat Sabah if it wins the 16th state election.

“Perikatan Nasional or Barisan Nasional or PBS cannot form the Sabah government by itself, even if they win all their seats. As such, it has to band together to win the state,” the prime minister had said at the Bersatu office in Sulaman.

“Our desire is to change the government from Warisan to Perikatan and its allies,” he added.

BN and PBS are allies of the PN-led federal government, but are going into the Sabah polls as separate entities.

The compromise to name the group of parties Gabungan Rakyat Sabah was made last night after a meeting in Kota Kinabalu, Muhyiddin had said.

“We decided to name our coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah after a meeting with all the parties.” – September 12, 2020.