KENINGAU (Sabah, Malaysia), November 9, 2025 — The Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia Party (PUTRA) has officially announced its first-ever participation in Sabah’s 17th state election (PRN-17), marking the emergence of another new political force in the state’s evolving political landscape.
PUTRA Sabah chairman Jeffrus Maimin Rijan said the party has identified four constituencies — Liawan, Balung, Bengkoka, and Pitas — as its target seats for the upcoming polls.
“PUTRA has both the foundation and opportunity to contest in these four areas. We are fully prepared,” Jeffrus told reporters in Keningau on Sunday.
He said PUTRA aims to present itself as a credible political alternative for the people of Sabah, advocating a leadership model grounded in integrity and the protection of Sabah Bumiputera rights.
Jeffrus added that the party’s candidates will be local-born individuals accepted by their communities, with clean records and deep roots in their constituencies.
“Our candidates are true sons and daughters of their areas. They understand local realities and are committed to representing the people with honesty and courage,” he said.
Calling for a leadership reset in Sabah, Jeffrus urged voters to reject self-serving and corrupt political practices that have long eroded public trust.
“The people are tired of what is happening today. It’s time for Sabah to be led by those who are truly people-oriented, clean from corruption, and morally courageous enough to defend the state’s interests,” he stressed.
PUTRA’s entry into PRN-17 is seen as a signal of growing political pluralism in Sabah, as local and national parties brace for an increasingly competitive electoral contest in one of Malaysia’s most politically dynamic states.
