Mustapha, the deputy higher education minister and Sepanggar MP, recorded a comfortable victory in the Kota Belud division yesterday, receiving a total of 1,405 votes.

He defeated his rivals Madeli @ Modily Bangali and Azhrie Jenaim, who received 100 and 67 votes, respectively.

However Liew, a former Sabah deputy chief minister, lost the Kota Kinabalu PKR chief’s post to Lee Li Mei in a closely fought contest.

The state tourism minister and three-term Api-Api assemblyman garnered 1,157 votes –  against Lee’s 1,381.

The defeat dealt yet another blow to Liew, who was replaced as Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman in December by Upko president Ewon Benedick. She had held the post since 2017.

She was also ousted as Sabah PKR chief in 2022 after losing the confidence of the majority of the 25 division chiefs in the state.

Meanwhile, Sabah PKR secretary Sazalye Donol Abdullah lost his post as Kota Marudu PKR head after emerging third-best in a four-cornered contest for the post.

Sazaly obtained 512 votes, placing him ahead of Jasmon Jaji (182) but behind Jolius Majawi (648) and the new Kota Marudu PKR chief, Zaidi Jatil (1,031).

State PKR information chief Razeef Rakimin defended his Tuaran division post, obtaining 352 votes to see off his challengers, Abdul Ali Madtair and Hampry Luaran, who received 243 and 170 votes, respectively.