TWO veteran leaders - both former ministers, are almost certain to contest in the upcoming Sabah polls.
The President of the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO), Tan Sri Pandikar Amin and the President of the Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Tan Sri Anifah Aman, are expected to be announced as GRS candidates in the Pintasan and Bongawan State Legislative Assembly seats, respectively.
In Pintasan, Pandikar has to get 'permission' from the incumbent of the seat, Datuk Fairuz Renddan, who is also the Youth Chief of the Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Party (Gagasan Rakyat), the largest component partner in GRS.
As the incumbent, Fairuz is certain to want to defend the seat, but the decision on whether or not he is retained lies in the hands of Gagasan Rakyat President who is also GRS Chairman, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
According to reports, it is understood that Pandikar has been given 'the green light' to contest on the GRS ticket in the Pintasan state seat and Fairuz will likely have to make way for the senior leader.
In the 16th Sabah polls, Fairuz won the Pintasan state seat with a majority of 84 votes after obtaining 2,744 votes, defeating Pandikar who obtained 2,660 votes as the closest challenger in the six-cornered contest.
For the coming polls, the Pintasan state seat is expected to see a fierce competition between GRS, Barisan Nasional (BN), Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM) in addition to possible candidates from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and other small parties as well as independent candidates.
In the Bongawan state seat, Anifah is expected to once again challenge the incumbent, Dr Daud Yusof from Warisan, and will also face competition from candidates from BN, PKDM, STAR and other small parties, as well as the possibility of an independent candidate.
In the last state election, Anifah who received 3,598 votes lost to Dr Daud who got 5,400 votes, allowing Warisan to retain its victory in the seat which saw a four-cornered contest.
Hajiji, who also the Sabah Chief Minister is expected to announce the GRS candidates on November 12. - November 8, 2025
