1976 Sabah state election

1976 Sabah state election
← 1971 5–14 April 1976 1981 →
All 48 seats in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly
25 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Fuad Stephens Mustapha Harun
Party BERJAYA USNO
Alliance Barisan Nasional (federal) Barisan Nasional (federal)
Sabah Alliance (state)
Leader since 1975 1961
Leader's seat Kiulu Banggi
Last election New party 29 seats
Seats won 28 20
Seat change Increase28 Decrease9
Popular vote 101,393 69,286
Percentage 54.10% 36.97%
Chief Minister before election

Said Keruak
USNO

Elected Chief Minister

Fuad Stephens
BERJAYA

The 1976 Sabah state election was held between Monday, 5 April and Saturday, 14 April 1976. This was the third state election to take place, and the first to feature opposition candidates since the first election on 1967, as the second state election on 1971 has all government candidates won uncontested.[1] The state assembly were dissolved on 23 January 1976,[2][3] and the nomination day was on 18 March 1976.[4]

In the election, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sabah (BERJAYA) led by Fuad Stephens, won the election with a majority of 28 seats out of 48 seats in the newly expanded state assembly, and ousted incumbent government United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) from power.[5][6] USNO, who is in coalition with Sabah Chinese Association (SCA) that governs the state for the past 9 years, only won 20 seats while SCA lost all their seats.[6]

  1. ^ Bill Campbell (1 April 1976). "Big Usno-Berjaya polls battle in Sabah shapes up". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 5. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Sabah polls within 90 days". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 24 January 1976. pp. 1, 32. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Early polls for Sabah". New Straits Times via Google News. 23 January 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  4. ^ Bill Campbell (19 March 1976). "Sabah polls: Tun M files papers". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 1. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  5. ^ Bill Campbell (15 April 1976). "Shock win by Berjaya". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 1. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b Arkib, Pusat Maklumat dan (16 April 2021). "Parti Berjaya berkuasa di Sabah". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 6 February 2023.