The Sabah chief minister said those picked would be winnable candidates who would be acceptable to the people and could serve them well.

“GRS and BN will always give their cooperation and support to whoever is selected,” he told reporters after officiating the convocation ceremony of the Yayasan Sabah College of Technology (YSCT) here.

The Election Commission today fixed Nov 19 as polling day and Nov 5 for nominations.

The Bugaya by-election will be held at the same time as GE15. The Bugaya seat fell vacant after the death of its assemblyman Manis Muka Mohd Darah on Nov 17, 2020 but the by-election was postponed following the proclamation of an emergency at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hajiji said cooperation between GRS and BN in the administration of Sabah was important to ensure stability and to implement programmes and initiatives under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya plan for the people.

“I have told the leadership at the federal level not to disturb us in Sabah. We hold to this understanding and promise because we have three more years to rule,” he added.