RANAU: All four Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates are facing Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and independent candidates in all constituencies in this district.

BN candidate Datuk Siringan Gubat (59) is facing PKR's Jonathan Yasin (41), a lawyer and Independent Vitos Mark Koding (30), a businessman at Ranau parliamentary constituency (P179).

Another incumbent Datuk Masidi Majun (58) is facing a straight fight with Atin @ Attin Naisin (58) of PKR for the Karanaan (N30) State seat.

Masidi is the incumbent State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment while Atin is a retired state civil servant.

The Paginatan (N31) state seat is hotly contested by four candidates- Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin (BN), Paul Kerangkas (PKR), Johumin Ampadang (Barisan Rakyat Sabah) and Mat Jaili Samat (independent)

Dr Joachim Gunsalam is defending his Kundasang (N29) State seat for the second time. The dentist is facing challenges from two other candidates, Karim Adam (PKR), a businessman and Japiril Suhaimin (Independent) also a businessman.

All four BN candidates arrived as early as 8.50am at Ranau Community Hall, accompanied by a strong cheering crowd of about 2000 supporters carrying BN flags.

Returning Officer Siriman M.F. Basir announced the contestants for the Ranau Parliament seat and the three state at 11.05 am after no objections from any of the candiadates.

The Ranau Parliament seat has 30,810 registered voters, while the Kundasang state seat has 9639. The Karanaan and Paginataan have 11,089 and 10,084 registered voters respectively.