THE Sungai Sibuga state seat will remain vacant following the death of assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain, with no by-election required under current laws, said state Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya.
He clarified that the next Sabah state election, which can be called anytime this year, will fill the vacancy.
“Under the law, if a seat becomes vacant within the last two years of the assembly’s five-year term, a by-election is not required,” Kadzim said.
The current legislative assembly, formed after the state polls in September 2020, will complete its term this September.
Mohamad Hamsan, a Sabah Umno member, passed away recently and was laid to rest yesterday at Bintang Baru Cemetery in Rancangan Sungai Manila, Sandakan, after funeral prayers at the Sabah state mosque in Sembulan.
The late assemblyman contested the Sungai Sibuga seat in 2020 under the Barisan Nasional banner, succeeding Tun Musa Aman, who was later appointed Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
Despite Sabah Umno withdrawing support for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah in January 2023, Mohamad Hamsan remained in Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s Cabinet as an assistant minister. – January 21, 2025.
