THE proposed 48 seats Sabah Barisan Nasional plans to contest in the state election is not final, said Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
The figure remains a proposal, he said.
Zahid said the number was based on BN Sabah’s internal projections, but the final decision would depend on the coalition’s overall strategy.
“I hear clearly the request from UMNO and BN Sabah to contest 48 seats, that’s their proposal,” he said.
“But as national BN chairman, we give autonomy to UMNO and BN Sabah.
“They have their own calculations. Still, we must be realistic, we will only field candidates in winnable seats,” he said when met by reporters in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday.
He said the party’s vetting process was already underway, with between three and five potential names submitted for each constituency.
The final list, he added, would be reviewed jointly by BN headquarters and the Sabah leadership before being made public.
“We will look first at the level of winnability. Only seats with strong chances will be finalised,” he said.
Sabah BN electoral partner, Pakatan Harapan (PH) is eyeing about 23 seats.
Zahid said both coalitions had already reached an understanding to prevent seat clashes but noted that PH was still holding discussions with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to finalise its own contest list.
“That’s outside our scope,” Zahid said when asked about PH’s seat targets.
Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar recently announced plans to contest at least 48 seats following the party’s first meeting held earlier this week. - October 18, 2025
