KOTA KINABALU, Sept 10 (Sin Chew Daily) – Sabah Umno chairman Datuk Bung Moktar announced that his party would contest 31 state seats in the upcoming Sabah elections.

Former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman is out of the race.

Musa Aman, the incumbent Sungai Sibuga assemblyman, has earlier expressed his intention to contest the Sungai Manila state seat.

"Musa did not request to be named a candidate, and we did not propose to him," said Bung Moktar.

Bung also said 95% of the candidates would be first-timers with the exception of Datuk Seri Md Salleh Said, Datuk James Ratib and Datuk Kamarlin Ombi.

Meanwhile, Sabah PPBM is expected to announce its candidates for the state elections at 15:00 this afternoon..