The Sungai Sibuga state seat will remain vacant until a fresh election is called.

Sabah Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya said the vacancy would remain as the Sabah election can be called at any time this year as the legislative assembly’s term ends in September.

The seat has become vacant following the death of assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain.

“By law, a by-election is unnecessary if the vacancy occurs within the final two years of the assembly’s five-year term,” Kadzim said.

Mohamad Hamsan, who held the seat under Sabah Umno, passed away on Sunday night.

He was laid to rest yesterday at Bintang Baru Cemetery in Rancangan Sungai Manila, Sandakan, following prayers at the Sabah state mosque in Sembulan.

The late assemblyman won the Sungai Sibuga seat as a Barisan Nasional candidate in 2020, succeeding Tun Musa Aman, who later appointed Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

Despite Sabah Umno withdrawing support for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah in January 2023, Mohamad Hamsan retained his role as an assistant minister and remained loyal to Umno until his passing. – January 21, 2025