Kota kinabalu: Two of the four federal deputy ministers who contested in the 17th Sabah State Election have successfully won their respective seats.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup emerged victorious in the Sook constituency with a significant majority of 4,727 votes. He defeated four other candidates, including the incumbent, Datuk Ellron Angin from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). Arthur, representing Barisan Nasional (BN) and serving as the president of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) as well as the Pensiangan MP, secured a total of 8,307 votes.

In a similar triumph, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal, also a Lahad Datu MP, won the Silam seat under the Warisan banner. He succeeded in an eight-cornered contest, garnering a majority of 1,257 votes.

Conversely, the election did not yield favorable results for two other deputy ministers. Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin from BN, who is also the Kimanis MP, participated in a nine-cornered battle for the Bogawan seat. Despite obtaining 4,569 votes, he was defeated by Warisan's Dr. Daud Yusof, who received 5,542 votes. Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin from PH, who also serves as the Kota Kinabalu MP, lost in the nine-cornered contest for the Tanjung Aru seat, securing only 2,532 votes.

Moreover, former entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, associated with the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO), successfully retained the Kadamaian seat. He received 11,977 votes, achieving a comfortable majority of 9,672 in the eight-cornered contest.

The 17th Sabah State Election witnessed a total of 596 candidates vying for 73 seats.