PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) has pledged to reinforce its presence in Sabah despite a disappointing performance in the 17th State Election, securing just one seat in the Karambunai constituency.
PN Sabah chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, said the coalition accepted the results with an open heart and extended congratulations to all victorious parties.
“With the victory in Karambunai, PN will continue to strengthen its organisational machinery and unify leadership ranks to restore the confidence of Sabahans in the coalition,” he said in a statement today.
Kiandee also expressed gratitude to PN’s campaign teams and supporters who backed its candidates across 42 state constituencies.
The Karambunai win was historic for PAS, whose candidate contesting under the PN banner, Datuk Dr Aliakhbar Gulasan, secured the seat.
However, PN faced setbacks elsewhere, with Kiandee himself losing to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidate Datuk James Ratib in the Sugut constituency.
The official results of the 17th Sabah State Election saw GRS emerge as the dominant party, winning 29 seats and securing the largest number of seats in the state assembly. Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, GRS chairman, was sworn in early this morning for his second term as Chief Minister of Sabah.
PN’s focus now turns to rebuilding its state machinery and strengthening internal cohesion as it seeks to maintain relevance and voter confidence in the state ahead of future contests. - November 30, 2025