Annuar Ayub Aman

Summary

Datuk Annuar Ayub Aman (born 29 August 1961) is a Malaysian politician from Sabah who served as the Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly for Liawan from September 2020 to October 2025. A member of the prominent Aman political family and a former STAR vice president, he broke from his party in October 2025 to contest the 17th Sabah state election under the GRS banner, ultimately losing the Liawan seat to his cousin from Barisan Nasional.

Biography

Datuk Annuar bin Ayub (also known as Annuar Ayub Aman; born 29 August 1961) is a Malaysian politician who served as the Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Liawan constituency from September 2020 to the dissolution of the 16th Assembly on 6 October 2025 [1]. He is a member of a prominent Sabah political family: his father, Datuk Ayub Haji Aman, was a state cabinet minister during the Sabah People's United Party (Berjaya) government from 1976 to 1986, and his uncles include Tun Musa Aman, the 11th Governor of Sabah and former Chief Minister, and Tan Sri Anifah Aman, a former Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs [1]. Annuar joined Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) on 18 December 2018 and won the Liawan seat in the 2020 Sabah state election under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)–STAR ticket, defeating incumbent Rasinin Kautis with a majority of 641 votes [1]. He was subsequently appointed STAR Vice President representing the Muslim Bumiputera quota [1]. In October 2025, when STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan withdrew the party from the GRS coalition, Annuar was among five STAR assemblymen who broke ranks and chose to remain with GRS, contesting the 17 November 2025 Sabah state election directly under the GRS banner [2]. He lost the Liawan seat in that election to Barisan Nasional's Nik Mohd Nadzri Nik Zawawi, who is his maternal cousin, by a majority of 643 votes [3].

Known for

Annuar Ayub Aman is known as the Liawan assemblyman who broke from Sabah STAR in October 2025 to contest the 17th Sabah state election under the direct GRS banner, prioritising coalition continuity over party loyalty. He is part of the Aman family, one of Sabah's most prominent political dynasties, with direct family ties to Tun Musa Aman and Tan Sri Anifah Aman. In the 2025 election, he faced an intra-family contest in Liawan, competing against two of his own maternal cousins standing for rival coalitions.

Political positions

Annuar Ayub Aman positioned himself firmly within the GRS coalition framework during the lead-up to the 2025 Sabah state election. When STAR exited GRS in October 2025, he publicly stated, "We did not 'abandon' Sabah STAR...we chose to stay with GRS," characterising his decision as honouring his electoral mandate to constituents rather than abandoning his party [4]. In a joint statement with four other STAR defectors, he stated that "the state's political stability and continued development are priorities" and affirmed loyalty to the GRS administration under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor [4]. No public positions on specific policy areas such as healthcare, education, or housing have been recorded in available sourced material.

Political career

1. 18 December 2018Annuar Ayub joined Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), marking the formal start of his political career.⛓
2. 2016Annuar Ayub was serving as STAR Vice President, a position he has held since 2016.⛓
3. 26 September 2020Won the Liawan state seat in the 2020 Sabah state election under the GRS-STAR ticket, defeating incumbent Rasinin Kautis with a majority of 641 votes (4,628 votes). Appointed as STAR Vice President representing the Muslim Bumiputera quota following his victory.⛓
4. October 2020Began serving as Member of the 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly for Liawan when the assembly first sat.⛓
5. 6 October 2025When STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan withdrew the party from GRS, Annuar was among four STAR assemblymen present at the announcement of the assembly's dissolution who declared they would remain with GRS rather than follow Kitingan.⛓
6. 9 October 2025Formally resigned from Sabah STAR along with four other assemblymen, following the party's supreme council meeting. The Liawan STAR division subsequently also quit the party in solidarity with Annuar.⛓
7. 12 November 2025Officially named as GRS candidate for N41 Liawan in the 17th Sabah state election under the direct GRS banner.⛓
8. 29 November 2025Lost the Liawan seat in the 17th Sabah state election to BN's Nik Mohd Nadzri Nik Zawawi (5,882 votes) by a majority of 643 votes, polling 5,239 votes himself in a 10-cornered contest.⛓

Election history

• 2025Liawan (N41)Lost25.24%⛓
• 2020Liawan (N41)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsAnnuar Ayub Aman won the 2020 Liawan seat under GRS-STAR with 4,628 votes and a majority of 641. He lost the 2025 Liawan seat under GRS with 5,239 votes, coming second to BN's Nik Mohd Nadzri Nik Zawawi (5,882 votes, majority 643) in a 10-cornered contest.⛓
• GovernmentGRS named Annuar Ayub Aman as its direct candidate for Liawan in the 2025 election, recognising his loyalty to the coalition after STAR's withdrawal.⛓
• OppositionSTAR president Jeffrey Kitingan said he respected the five assemblymen's decision but noted: "If they ignore the people's voices or fail to respect public sentiment, then we will let the people decide."⛓
• PublicThe Liawan STAR division's deputy chief stated that all committee members stood with Annuar, describing him as a leader who had "demonstrated sincerity, tangible work, and a clear vision for the future of Liawan."⛓