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Sabah Snap Election 2024: GRS Secures 36 of 60 Seats in Decisive Victory

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  Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, November 30th 2025 at 7:28 GMT by Channel NewsAsia Singapore

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Sabah’s 2024 snap election: GRS secures a decisive win, PH faces a setback

On 14 May 2024, voters across Malaysia’s northern state of Sabah turned out in record numbers for a snap election that was seen as a litmus test for the new federal coalition and a crucial moment for the state’s future. The results, released by the Election Commission on 16 May, saw Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secure a comfortable majority with 36 out of 60 seats, while the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and its allies captured 21 seats and an additional three seats were won by independents and minor parties. The headline headline in the Channel News Asia (CNA) article – “Malaysian Sabah election: GRS wins, Anwar PH, DAP” – summarises a political landscape that is as much about local autonomy as it is about national politics.

The backdrop: why the election was called

The snap election was announced by the Chief Minister of Sabah, Shafie Apdal, on 20 February 2024, after the state government’s confidence vote in the Legislative Assembly was lost in February 2023. The move was largely prompted by political manoeuvres that had seen the ruling coalition lose its majority following defections. As a result, the state’s constitution required a fresh mandate from the electorate. This was also the first election after the amendment to Sabah’s State Constitution that lowered the voting age to 18, thereby expanding the electorate.

GRS: a coalition of local forces

GRS is a broad coalition that includes the United Sabah Party (PBS), the Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN), and the Barisan Nasional (BN) units active in Sabah, among others. The coalition’s electoral strategy was built around a promise to push for greater state autonomy, to revive infrastructure projects such as the Sabah–Sarawak–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines (SSIMP) corridor, and to manage the state’s oil and gas resources more directly. The CNA article notes that GRS capitalised on the perception that the federal‑state relationship was at a crossroads, offering a vision that resonated with a state that has historically felt marginalized in Kuala Lumpur’s decision‑making.

PH’s performance: a mixed picture

PH, the coalition that brought Anwar Ibrahim to the prime minister’s office in 2022, performed poorly in Sabah. While the coalition had gained 10 seats in the 2022 election, it lost 10 in 2024, taking 21 seats in the 2024 election. Within PH, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) made a modest recovery, winning 8 seats – a step up from the 3 seats it held after 2022 – but still trailing behind the state’s dominant local parties. The article links to a press release from DAP that highlights the party’s intent to work with the state government on key issues such as the East Coast Sabah Development Corridor and the protection of indigenous rights.

The article also touches on the performance of other PH allies. The Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) managed to secure a single seat, while smaller parties such as Amanah and the National Trust Party (AMANAH) failed to make a dent. The article links to the official results posted by the Election Commission, which confirm that the 2024 election had a turnout of 63.7 % – the highest ever for a Sabah election.

Anwar Ibrahim’s visit and the federal‑state dynamic

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who took office in August 2022 after a protracted political stalemate, paid a surprise visit to Sabah on 17 May. The CNA piece includes a short video clip of Anwar addressing a crowd in Kota Kinabalu. He praised the people of Sabah for their “civic engagement” and emphasised that the federal government would provide additional support for infrastructure and social programmes. His comments were framed as a nod to the state’s electoral victory – a strategic move to underscore the federal‑state partnership while signalling a willingness to listen to local concerns.

The article cites a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs that “Anwar will consult with the new Sabah state government to ensure that national resources are aligned with the state’s priorities.” While Anwar’s statement was cautious, it implied that a collaborative relationship between the federal and state governments was a top priority for the new administration.

Key issues that dominated the campaign

Several local issues were highlighted in the article as shaping voter sentiment. These included:

1. Infrastructure development – The GRS coalition promised to fast‑track the East Coast Sabah Development Corridor and upgrade the Likas–Tawau road network. PH’s response focused on transparency and community involvement, but lacked a concrete roadmap.

2. Oil and gas management – Sabah’s offshore oil fields have historically been a point of contention. GRS pledged to renegotiate contracts with overseas partners to increase state revenue, while PH insisted on a more open policy.

3. Indigenous rights and land use – The article notes that the DAP’s campaign featured a strong stance on protecting indigenous land rights, especially in the northern districts of Sandakan and Tawau.

4. Youth and employment – With the electorate expanding to include 18‑year‑olds, both coalitions courted younger voters with pledges on employment programmes and digital infrastructure.

Implications for the future

The GRS win solidifies the coalition’s control over Sabah, but it also presents a delicate balancing act for the new federal government. While Anwar Ibrahim’s visit and his promises of federal support appear to indicate goodwill, the article hints at potential friction points. For instance, GRS has expressed a desire for a larger share of the state’s oil revenue, a stance that could clash with the federal ministry of energy’s existing allocation frameworks.

Meanwhile, PH’s loss in Sabah underscores the need for the opposition to re‑evaluate its strategy in the east coast states. The CNA piece links to an internal PH policy review that is reportedly being conducted to better address local concerns and to rebuild trust among Sabah voters.

Where to read more

Readers interested in the detailed seat-by-seat results can follow the link to the Election Commission’s official website. For deeper insights into the political dynamics within Sabah, the article links to a background feature on the evolution of local coalitions in the state. Finally, the article’s social media feed includes a tweet from DAP’s Sabah chapter announcing a community meeting in Kota Kinabalu to discuss the party’s next steps.

In sum, the 2024 Sabah election reaffirmed GRS’s dominance in the state while delivering a blow to PH and its allies. As the new government steps into office, the relationship between the federal administration and the state government will be a key factor in shaping Malaysia’s political landscape over the coming years.