2020 Sabah state election

2020 PRN Sabah by party

2020 Sabah State Election

The 2020 Sabah state election was held on 26 September 2020 to elect members of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly. The election was called following the dissolution of the assembly on 30 July 2020 by the Governor of Sabah, Juhar Mahiruddin, upon the advice of the then Chief Minister, Shafie Apdal.

Background

The election was triggered by a political crisis in Sabah, where former Chief Minister Musa Aman attempted to reclaim the position by claiming majority support in the assembly. This led to a standoff, and eventually, the dissolution of the assembly was seen as a way to resolve the impasse.

Political Parties and Coalitions

Several major political parties and coalitions contested in the election, including:

• Warisan Plus - A coalition led by the Sabah Heritage Party (Warisan) and its allies, including the Democratic Action Party (DAP), People's Justice Party (PKR), and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO).
• Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) - A coalition comprising the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), and other local parties.

Election Results

The election saw a high voter turnout, with GRS winning a majority of the seats. The results were as follows:

• GRS: 38 seats
• Warisan Plus: 32 seats
• Independents and others: 3 seats

Following the election, Hajiji Noor from BERSATU was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Sabah.

Aftermath

The election results led to a change in the state government, with GRS taking over from the Warisan-led administration. The new government faced the challenge of addressing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the state's economy and public health.

Significance

The 2020 Sabah state election was significant as it highlighted the fluid nature of Malaysian politics, particularly in Sabah, where political alliances and loyalties can shift rapidly. It also underscored the importance of state elections in determining the balance of power within the country.

See Also

• Elections in Malaysia
• Politics of Malaysia
• COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia