GABUNGAN Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has won the state polls after it clinched a simple majority of 37 seats against the 25 Warisan Plus had picked up in the 73-seat legislature.

The unofficial count at 9pm showed the pact had secured the numbers to form the government.

The GRS comprises Perikatan Nasional, Barisan Nasional and Parti Bersatu Sabah, several local-based parties and several independents it had backed after nomination.

Warisan Plus is made up of Parti Warisan Sabah, Upko, DAP, PKR and Amanah.

PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin declared victory for GRS at the party’s command centre.

Over at the BN operations room, state chairman Bung Moktar Radin declared victory and thanked the voters.

“We thank the people of Sabah who yearned for change,” he said at the Sabah Umno headquarters in Kota Kinabalu.

Three independents won. They are Masiung Banah (Kuamut), Rudy Awah (Pitas) and Rubin Balang (Kemabong)

Former chief Minister Salleh Said Keruak, who returned to Umno on the eve of the polls, retained the Usukan seat for the party.

As at 3pm today, the Election Commission reported a voter turnout at 58%.

A total of 1.09 million voters were eligible to vote today. – September 26, 2020.