KOTA KINABALU: Only three seats consisting a parliamentary and two state constituencies in Sabah will see a one-on-one contest during this 14th General Election (GE14).
The remaining 82 seats which included 24 parliamentary constituencies, involved fights of three corners and more.
One of the straight-fight seats is Senallang, which see cousins Semporna Umno acting chief Datuk Seri Nasir Sakaran and Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal challenging each other.
The other two are Elopura state seat and Sandakan parliamentary seat, with BN candidates facing off DAP candidates.
Merotai state seat sees the highest numbers of candidates facing off in a seven-cornered fight, while eight seats will see seven-cornered fights (two parliamentary and six state seats).
In total, 349 candidates including five who are contesting in both parliamentary and state seats, handed over their nomination papers today, with 85 representing Barisan Nasional (BN) and 264 from the opposition including 13 independents.
Chief Minister cum Sabah BN chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman will defend Sungai Sibuga state seat against Warisan and Parti Kebangsaan Sabah (PKS) respective candidates in a three-way fight.
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president who is also Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan will defend his Tambunan state turf, which he held since 1976, against younger brother, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and brother-in-law Justin Alip (Warisan), as well as a Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) candidate.
Meanwhile, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) acting president Datuk Seri Madius Tangau will defend Tuaran parliamentary seat while Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Teo Chee Kang is defending Tanjung Kapor state seat. Both faced five-cornered fights.
Foreign Minister who is also Kimanis Umno chief Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, is being challenged by his former party division deputy Datuk Karim Bujang in a three-way fight for Kimanis parliamentary seat, the other challenger being Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah’s Jaafar Ismail.