What you need to know about Sabah Election 2020

WHAT is happening?

Sabah is set for a state election, to be held on September 26 with nomination day on 12 September and September 22 for early voting.

This snap state election was called for after caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal announced the dissolution of the State Assembly on July 30, following former Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman’s claim he had a simple majority to take over the state government.

From the dissolution to a snap election - a chronology

July 29 (2:30pm) - Musa Aman claims to have a simple majority to take over the Sabah government.

July 29 (8:00pm) - Shafie Apdal had a three-hour audience with Sabah Governor Tun Juhar Mahiruddin

July 30 (10:00am) - Shafie Apdal announced the dissolution of the state assembly.

July 30 (4:00pm) - Musa Aman rejected the decision to dissolve the state assembly and elected representatives siding with the former chief minister attempted to enter the Istana Negeri.

July 30 (6:00pm) - Musa Aman and his entourage were blocked outside Istana Negeri.

August 5 - Private secretary to the Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri, Abinan denied that the Istana Negeri had received any application from Musa to seek an audience with Tun Juhar.

August 6 - 33 assemblymen filed an application for judicial review of the decision to dissolve Sabah state assembly at the Kota Kinabalu High Court.

August 7 - Musa Aman’s lawyer argues on Sabah’s governor’s decision, and the High Court fixed August 17 to decide whether to grant leave on a judicial review application by 33 former state lawmakers challenging the decision to dissolve Sabah state assembly.

August 17 - Kota Kinabalu High Court begins hearing on justiciability over dissolution of Sabah State Assembly and sets August 21 to rule over the dissolution matter.

August 21 - Sabah court dismissed application over state assembly dissolution and all 33 assemblymen filed appeal minutes after court’s decision.

August 26 - Court fixes hearing of appeal by Musa Aman and 32 others for September 7

September 8 - The Court of Appeal dismissed Musa Aman’s appeal against his previous failed bid for leave to initiate a judicial review against the state assembly’s dissolution

September 9 - Parties announce candidates

September 12 - Sabah Election nomination day

September 26 - Sabah Election Day

Who is contesting? - A comparison between 2018 and 2020