Third election petition filed

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 31): Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, who lost in an 11-cornered contest for the Pintasan state seat, has filed an election petition challenging the victory of independent candidate Datuk Fairuz Renddan in the 17th Sabah State Election.

Pandikar filed the petition through his lawyer, Sukumaran Vanugopal, on December 22.

In the petition, Fairuz was named as the first respondent, Peter Jiton, the Returning Officer for the Pintasan constituency, as the second respondent, and the Election Commission of Malaysia as the third respondent.

Pandikar, 70, alleged that corrupt or illegal practices occurred during the election held on November 29, 2025, involving the first respondent. He claimed the alleged offences contravened Sections 10(a), (b), (c), (d),

in particular 10(e), as well as Section 32(c) of the Election Offences Act 1954.

He is seeking a declaration that the election is void and that Fairuz was not duly elected or ought not to have been returned.

Pandikar further requested that he be declared duly elected, that the respondents bear the costs of the petition, and that any other relief deemed just and appropriate by the court be granted.

In the election, Pandikar, the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) president who contested on a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ticket, garnered 3,605 votes. He lost to Fairuz, who secured 4,675 votes, winning the seat with a majority of 1,070 votes.

This is the third election petition filed after the 2025 Sabah state election.

Karanaan independent candidate Naomi Francis had earlier  filed a judicial review application at the Kota Kinabalu High Court seeking to quash the election result. The seat was won by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidate Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who secured a majority of 5,361 votes in the November 29 state election.

Naomi named the Election Commission (EC) as the first respondent and Masidi as the second respondent, challenging the declaration and subsequent gazettement of the election result.

According to court filings, Naomi alleged that the election was tainted by widespread corrupt practices, including vote buying, treating of voters and undue influence. She claimed that cash payments of between RM100 and RM200 were allegedly distributed to voters on the eve of polling by individuals linked to the returned candidate as inducements for support.

The application also raised allegations of polling day irregularities, including claims that her polling agent was denied access to a polling station at the start of voting and that mandatory election forms were not provided to her agents after vote counting at certain polling streams.

Naomi contended that these issues amounted to non-compliance with election laws and a failure by the EC to discharge its constitutional duty to ensure a free and fair election. Among the reliefs sought are orders to quash the Karanaan election result, compel a fresh election and declare the poll void due to alleged breaches of election laws.

Masidi has denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and without merit. He said the accusations were made without credible evidence and maintained that his campaign was conducted in full compliance with election laws and regulations. He added that the election was administered by the EC and reflected the will of the voters in Karanaan, and said he would cooperate fully with the legal process.

The judicial review application was filed on December 26 and is supported by affidavits and documentary evidence, including police reports and statutory declarations from witnesses. The matter is scheduled for mention on February 4, 2026, at the Kota Kinabalu High Court.

The third election petition was filed for the Sindumin result at the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex on December 26 following the circulation of a video allegedly showing improper handling of a ballot paper during vote counting.

The petition was lodged by registered voter Wendey Agong Baruh, naming Returning Officer Abdul Karim A M Zahari, the EC and the returned candidate, Yusri Pungut of Parti Warisan, as respondents.

The petitioner claimed that the conduct shown in the video could have affected the vote tally and undermined public confidence in the election. He further alleged that multiple procedural irregularities occurred during polling and counting, which may have breached provisions of the Election Offences Act 1954.

The petition argued that these actions compromised the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, necessitating judicial intervention.

Yusri won the Sindumin seat with 5,086 votes. The petitioner is seeking a declaration that the election result is invalid, that Yusri was not duly elected, costs, and any other relief deemed fit by the court.