Five women secure seats in Sabah State Assembly, marking shift in political landscape
by Nancy Lai · Borneo Post OnlineKOTA KINABALU (Nov 30): Five women have secured their place in the 17th Sabah State Legislative Assembly, each carving her own path through some of the state’s toughest contests, and together marking a quiet but powerful shift in Sabah’s political landscape.
Parti Warisan delivered three of these victories through Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Usukan), Edna Jessica Majimbun (Inanam) and Lisa Hassan Alban (Sungai Sibuga). All three battled through crowded races, each with a story that voters are unlikely to forget.
Isnaraissah’s win in Usukan was one of the night’s most gripping results. In a six-cornered fight, she went head-to-head with two political heavyweights — former chief minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak (Barisan Nasional) and veteran leader Datuk Japlin Akim (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah). The Kota Belud MP secured 6,292 votes, winning by a slim 442-vote majority.
Her victory reinforces what many on the ground have long believed: when women step into leadership, they bring courage, humility and a genuine connection with the people they serve.
In Inanam, Edna delivered an equally striking win. Facing a 13-cornered contest — one of the most crowded in this election — she secured 9,441 votes and a strong 2,952-vote majority. Her victory also reflected a sharp drop in support for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) incumbent, who received only 4,748 votes compared with 8,586 in the previous election. For many, Edna’s win represents a fresh, trusted voice returning to the community.
Edna is the state’s first female Native Court District Chief.
Over in Sungai Sibuga, Lisa Hassan Alban, who once served under the late Bugaya assemblywoman Datin Manis Muka Mohd Darah, pulled off one of the night’s biggest surprises.
She won with a razor-thin 88-vote majority in a five-cornered clash, defeating two seasoned contenders: Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (BN) with 6,531 votes and Amirsah Yaakub (GRS) with 6,493.
Sungai Sibuga has long been a Barisan Nasional stronghold, previously won by the party with a 7,545-vote margin in the 2020 election — making Lisa’s victory even more remarkable.
In Kukusan, incumbent Datuk Rina Jainal showed that determination can outlast even the most unexpected challenges. After her party, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS) under GRS, decided at the last minute not to field her again, Rina made the brave choice to resign and contest as an Independent just days before nomination.
What many viewed as a risky move became a story of pure resilience.
Rina first won Kukusan under Warisan in 2020, before joining the GRS-led government to secure development funds for her constituency. This time, she retained the seat through sheer personal connection and trust built with voters on the ground.
The fifth woman to enter the Assembly is Datuk Julita Mojungki (Matunggong) of GRS, who defended her seat in a six-cornered contest. The Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) secretary-general earned 9,096 votes and a 334-vote majority, improving on both her vote count and margin from 2020.
This election saw 71 women candidates, making up 11.9 per cent of the 596 contenders for 73 seats.