KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan has withdrawn as Barisan Nasional (BN)’s candidate for the Tempasuk state seat, just three days after his candidacy was announced.
The withdrawal was confirmed by Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who said Abdul Rahman had expressed his intention to step aside.
However, Bung Moktar said no clear reason was given for the decision, which came shortly after Abdul Rahman was named as BN‘s candidate for the 17th Sabah state election (PRN17).
“It’s true that Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman has withdrawn, but there’s no clear reason for it. He simply stated that he no longer wishes to contest,” Bung Moktar said when contacted today.
Last Sunday, the Tuaran Umno chief and UMNO Supreme Council member was among 41 BN candidates announced to contest in PRN17.
Today, Bung Moktar also revealed that BN would be contesting four additional seats, bringing the total to 45 constituencies, ahead of nomination day this Saturday.
Earlier, Bung Moktar had said Abdul Rahman’s candidacy in Tempasuk was based on his experience as a two-term Kota Belud Member of Parliament (2008–2018).
Abdul Rahman later moved to contest the Sepanggar parliamentary seat in 2018, but lost to a Parti Warisan candidate. He returned to contest Kota Belud in the 2022 general election, but was again defeated by a Warisan candidate.
Following the latest development, Bung Moktar said Abdul Rahman would be replaced by Kota Belud Umno division chief, Azuwan Marjan Norjan, as BN’s new candidate for the Tempasuk seat.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook statement, Abdul Rahman said he had informed Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of his decision not to proceed with his candidacy.
“I have told the president that I wish to give way to a new face and a local from Kota Belud to represent Umno in the Tempasuk state seat.
“I have contested three times in the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency (2013, 2018 and 2022), winning twice and losing once. In all three elections, Umno still won the votes in the Tempasuk state seat, even when we lost the parliamentary seat.
“I believe a local candidate from Umno Kota Belud will be able to take on this responsibility successfully. As a party member, I will continue to assist the party in other capacities,” he said.
Abdul Rahman also expressed his gratitude to the party and Ahmad Zahid for naming him as a candidate on Nov 9, and thanked Umno members and supporters in Tempasuk for their continuous support over the years.
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