Hajiji Noor Heads To Istana Claiming Numbers To Form Sabah Govt

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The atmosphere at Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor offiicial residence, Seri Gaya is buoyant as GRS unofficially reaches 29 seats, with PH holding two. — Picture by Julia ChanLive Updates: 
11.45pm: Speculation is rife that caretaker chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is heading to the Istana soon, claiming to have the numbers to form the government.
The current tally stands at GRS 29, Warisan 23, Barisan Nasional 8, Pakatan Harapan 1, Perikatan Nasional 1, Upko 3, Star 2, and five independents leaning towards GRS.
11.30pm: The 17th Sabah state election is heading towards a hung legislative assembly, with no single party currently securing a simple majority to form the new state government, according to several media outlets.
11pm: GRS’s Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor retains Sulaman with a majority of nearly 9,000 votes.
10.55pm: Warisan wins in Sindumin, defeating Pakatan Harapan’s Datuk Hafez Yamani Musa, son of Sabah governor Tun Musa Aman.
10.40pm: (Unofficial) GRS wins 29 seats, Warisan 18, BN 9. Simple majority for forming state goverment is 37 seats.
10.23pm: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is expected to be sworn in as Sabah chief minister tonight, according to FMT.
With GRS on track to secure the numbers to form the new government, FMT reports that discussions among top leaders have been ongoing since this evening.
The talks involve both GRS components and strategic partners at the federal level.
10.15pm: PH and GRS have enough seats to form the new Sabah government. 
PKR secretary-general Datuk Fuziah Salleh said PKR’s Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari is in talks with GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to finalise the government.
“Insya-Allah, we have the numbers to form the government tonight,” she said, adding that PH is honoured to be part of the new Sabah administration.
10.10pm: Amirudin is holding discussions with GRS chairman Hajiji Noor regarding formation of new Sabah government 
10.04pm: PKR vice-president Amirudin Shari says GRS chairman Datuk Hajiji Noor has the numbers to form the new Sabah government, FMT reports. 
9.55pm: GRS leads with 29 seats, followed by Warisan 15, BN 9, Upko 1, independents 4, Star 1, and PH 2.
9.52pm: GRS wins the Tanjung Keramat seat. In 2020, BN won the seat.
9.44pm: Bernama reports that GRS has won 26 seats, Warisan 13, BN 9, Upko 1, independents 4, Star 1, and PH 2.
9.37pm: In Bandau, independent candidate Datuk Maijol Mahap is leading against GRS’s Datuk Redonah Bahanda.
Meanwhile, in Tanjong Kapor, former Warisan candidate Datuk Ben Chong retains his seat.
9.25pm: Unofficial: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Sabah president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan retains Tambunan, repeating his 2020 victory.
9.20pm: Independent candidate Fairuz Renddan is said to have defeated GRS’s Pandikar Amin Mulia in Pintasan — the second time he has beaten him after 2020. Fairuz is the former Gagasan Rakyat Youth chief.
9.10pm: Pakatan Harapan’s PKR finally goes up on the board with two seats. In Sindumin, Datuk Hafez Yamani Musa — the eldest son of Sabah Governor Tun Musa Aman — secures a win.
Over in Melalap, PKR’s “borrowed” candidate Datuk Jamawi Jaafar defeats KDM acting president Priscella Peter. In Bongawan, Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Mohamad Alamin wins the seat, beating Warisan incumbent Dr Daud Yusof.
9pm: GRS wins 22 seats, Warisan 11, BN 9, UPKO 1, Independents 2.
8.45pm: Anthony Loke takes responsibility for DAP’s defeat.
8.33pm: Unofficial: GRS 21, Warisan 11, BN 8
8.15pm: Former cabinet minister Anifah Aman loses Bongawan seat.
8.05pm: GRS retains Tanjong Batu, Pitas, Klias and Tempasuk while Warisan retains Sulabayan and Senallang. BN retains Usukan.
8pm: DAP has unofficially lost all the seats it contested.
7.50pm: Chinese tsunami wipes out DAP with the likely loss of the Kapayan seat; grassroots leader Datuk Jannie Lasimbang believed to have lost to Warisan’s Chin Tek Ming.
7.45pm: Unofficial: BN’s Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak wins the Usukan seat.
7.35pm: According to Bernama, the unofficial results of the 17th Sabah state election as of 7.00pm show Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) winning 21 state seats, Warisan securing 11, and Barisan Nasional (BN) taking 3.
7.19pm: UPKO’s gamble of quitting is believed to have paid off, as president Datuk Ewon Benedick is said to have won Kadamaian.
DAP is nearly wiped out, with Likas believed to have gone to Warisan’s Tham Yun Fook. Its only hope left is Kapayan.
BN is also said to have retained Sugut and Labuk.
7.15pm: Unofficial results: Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia delivers Pintasan seat for GRS.
7.08pm: Unofficial indications also give six seats to Warisan — including two new seats in Luyang and Tanjung Papat.
Newcomer Samuel Wong took the Luyang seat from DAP, which fielded 25 year old Chan Loong Wei. In Tanjung Papat, Warisan’s Thien Ching Qiang defeated incumbent Datuk Frankie Poon, a former Sabah DAP chairman who quit to run as an independent.
Warisan also retained Tanjung Aru, Elopura, Bugaya and Sri Tanjong.
BN won the Sekong seat from Warisan. Mohd Zharif Aizat Shamsuddin, son of former Sekong state assemblyman Datuk Shamsuddin Yahya, is said to have won the seat.
7.00pm: Unofficial results: Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has retained his Lamag state seat.
6.55pm: Unofficial results: Warisan has taken Elopura, Tanjung Aru, Tanjong Papat, Luyang and Sri Tanjong.
6.30pm: Unofficial results from GRS ground sources show the coalition has won eight seats, including a victory for Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s son Hazem Mubarak Musa in Sungai Manila.
Other winning candidates are Sabah caretaker chief minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noo in Sulaman, USNO president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin in Pintasan, Datuk Mohammad Mohamarin in Banggi, Datuk Ariffin Arif in Membakut, PBS president Datuk Joachim Gunsalam in Kundasang, Datuk Rubin Balang in Kemabong, and Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan in Apas.
Except for Hazem and Pandikar, all others are incumbents.
6.05pm: Unofficial: GRS’s Pandikar Amin Mulia wins in Pintasan. In 2020, BN won the seat.
6.00pm: Unofficial: GRS, PH in neck-and-neck lead for Kemabong
5.40pm: Counting of votes has started at the Penampang Cultural Centre for the Kapayan and Moyog seats.
5.30pm: All 882 polling centres across Sabah have officially closed at 5.30pm 
KOTA KINABALU, Nov 29 — Polling has officially closed across Sabah for the 17th state election, setting the stage for a tense night of vote-counting and political horse-trading in a contest defined by fluid alliances and a rising demand for state autonomy.
The Election Commission (EC) reported a voter turnout of 60.94 per cent as of 4pm, a figure lower than the 2020 state election.
Preliminary results are expected to trickle in from 10pm onwards, with the EC aiming to announce the full results by midnight, barring any delays from severe weather.
With no single coalition expected to secure a clear majority, the final outcome will likely be decided by post-election deal-making between the major blocs, including GRS, Warisan, Pakatan Harapan (PH), and Barisan Nasional, (BN). 
The result is also expected to significantly influence national politics ahead of the next general election. - malaymail

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