Kuala Lumpur: The 27th convocation of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), scheduled for November 29, will not interfere with the voting process for Sabah’s 17th State Election (PRN17) on the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Election Commission (EC) took all necessary factors into consideration before setting the election date. This includes ensuring that the university’s halls would not be utilized as polling stations and accommodating the upcoming Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams that begin on November 3.

Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also pointed out that many students at UMS hail from other states, suggesting that the convocation will not significantly impact voter turnout. “Parents attending the convocation are not solely from Sabah. UMS students come from all over Malaysia, so I do not foresee any issue arising from this,” he informed reporters at the ASEAN Sports Industry Expo 2025.

The 27th UMS convocation for the 2025 graduates is scheduled from November 29 to December 2. Addressing the postponement of UMNO’s 2025 General Assembly (PAU), Ahmad Zahid stated that party secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has reached out to the Registrar of Societies (RoS) for approval in accordance with party regulations. “This is the second postponement. Originally set for August, then November 26, it has been rescheduled to January next year due to PRN Sabah polling on November 29,” he explained.

The Election Commission has determined November 15 as the nomination day and November 25 for early voting for PRN17 Sabah, with 73 state seats contested across 25 parliamentary constituencies.