KOTA KINABALU, Nov 15: Former Sabah National Party (PKS) President Uling @ Thomas Anggan has emerged as the oldest candidate in the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN) at the age of 86.
Thomas will contest the Bingkor State Assembly (DUN) seat, which was won by Robert Tawik @ Nordin from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and contested under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) ticket in the last State Election with a majority of 5,070 votes.
In the Bingkor DUN, Thomas will face a 10-cornered contest, including from the incumbent, Robert, who is now contesting as a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidate, besides Kennedy Jie John @ Kenn (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO)); Solzah Sual (Sabah Maju Party-SAPP), Haryady Antutu (Pertubuhan Gemilang Anak Sabah-GAS); Benedict Martin Gunir (Warisan) and Kenolee Justine (Sabah Dream Party-PIS).
Thomas will also be challenged by Niklos Ongoh from the Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), Mohd Ishak Ayub (STAR), and an Independent candidate, Ahamin Salim.
The Bingkor DUN, which is located within the Keningau Parliament, has 31,305 registered voters in this State Election.
Meanwhile, Mohd Syafiq Iqhmal Saharudin, representing PKS, has emerged as the youngest candidate in this State Election and is contesting the Silam DUN, which was won by Datu Dumi Masdal from Warisan in the last election.
Mohd Syafiq, 24, faces a nine-cornered contest in the 17th State Election, including the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Datuk Dr Mohammad Yusof Apdal (Warisan).
He will also face Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Musa Mabul, Mizma Appehdullah (GRS), Borkes @ Balkis Kalinggalan (PN), Abd Halim Sidek Gulam Hassan (Pakatan Harapan), Mohammad Enriquez (Sabah Maju Party-SAPP), and Brahim Bisel (PIS).
In the 16th State Election in 2020, the youngest candidate was 22 years old in the Tandek DUN, while the oldest candidate was 75 years old, contesting in the Bugaya DUN.
This State Election sees 71 out of 596 contesting candidates as women, with Warisan fielding the highest number of women candidates at nine.
The Election Commission (SPR) has set Nov 25 as the date for early voting for the Sabah State Election and Nov 29 as the actual polling day.
— BERNAMA