Rahman said he wanted to make way for new blood to take part in the state polls, adding that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had been informed of his decision.

Although he lost the contest for the Kota Belud parliamentary seat in 2022, he pointed out that Umno still won the majority of the votes cast in the Tempasuk constituency.

I believe that a local from Kota Belud Umno will be able to carry the responsibility (of contesting in the state election) well.

“As an Umno member, I will continue helping the party in other capacities,” he said in a Facebook post.

Separately, Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin maintained that the former Kota Belud MP’s candidacy was well-received by the BN machinery.

“He didn’t pull out because he faced rejection after being announced as our candidate. There was no issue with his candidacy,” Bung told FMT.

He said BN’s preparations for the election would not be hampered by Rahman’s decision, though he hoped his deputy would continue to campaign for the coalition.

“I believe he will continue helping our candidates achieve victory,” he said.

Bung also announced that BN would field Kota Belud Umno chief Azwan Norjan in Tempasuk instead.