Malaysia

Sabah polls: Two independents win seats; Loke says he accepts responsibility for party’s defeat

Rina Jainal who won the Kukusan seat while Awang Ahmad Sah Sahari secured the Petagas seat, defeating his brother, Awang Husaini Sahari of PH.

Updated 9 months ago · Published on 29 Nov 2025 8:51PM

Sabah polls: Two independents win seats; Loke says he accepts responsibility for party’s defeat
Loke said he respected the decision of voters - November 29, 2025

TWO independent candidates successfully won the Kukusan and Petagas state seats in the Sabah state election.

Rina Jainal who won the Kukusan seat while Awang Ahmad Sah Sahari secured the Petagas seat, defeating his brother, Awang Husaini Sahari of PH.

Meanwhile, reports said that DAP lost all eight seats it contested, with the biggest casualty being in Tanjung Aru, where Sabah DAP deputy chairman Datuk Chan Foong Hin, who is also the deputy plantation and commodities minister, lost the seat to Warisan.

DAP, contesting under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner, was also defeated in the other constituencies it contested, including Sri Tanjong, Kapayan, Elopura, Likas, Luyang and Tanjung Papat.

In an immediate reaction, party secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said he accepted responsibility for the party’s dismal performance, confirming that it lost all six seats it won in 2020.

Loke also said he respected the decision of voters and that DAP still has two Sabah representatives in Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin and Sandakan MP Vivian Wong.

"The party leadership would take heed of the outcome, reassess its shortcomings and work towards regaining public support in future elections," he added. - November 29, 2025

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