Jonnybone Kurum

Summary

Datuk Jonnybone Kurum (PBS/GRS) is the MLA for Telupid, Sabah, a seat he has held since first winning it in the 2020 state election and successfully defended in November 2025. He serves as GRS Youth chief and, since December 2025, as Sabah's Assistant Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transport under the Hajiji Noor administration. His public record centres on rural development, political coalition management, and building an entrepreneurial ecosystem for Sabah.

Biography

Datuk Jonnybone Kurum is a Malaysian politician of Kadazan-Dusun heritage from Sabah who has served as Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Telupid since September 2020 [1]. He is a member of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), a component party of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition [1]. Telupid, the constituency he represents, is located approximately 200km from Kota Kinabalu in central Sabah, covering 2,210.25 square kilometres with a population of approximately 29,704 [2][3]. Kurum first won the Telupid seat — then a newly created constituency — in the September 2020 Sabah state election, defeating four candidates from UPKO, BN, PCS, and LDP with a majority of 685 votes [4]. He was re-elected in the 17th Sabah State Election on 29 November 2025, securing 3,868 votes in a nine-cornered contest [5]. Following that election, he was appointed as Assistant Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transport under Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and Minister Ewon Benedick in December 2025 [6]. Prior to his executive role, he served as Political Secretary to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs, Maximus Ongkili, from 27 September 2021 until 2022, and as Political Secretary I of the Sabah Minister of Local Government and Housing, Joachim Gunsalam [1]. He also holds the position of GRS Youth chief [7]. Kurum holds the title of Datuk, conferred via the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) award [1].

Known for

Jonnybone Kurum is known as the inaugural and incumbent MLA for the newly created Telupid constituency, which he has held since 2020. He is also recognised as GRS Youth chief, a coalition-level party role within Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. He has been a consistent voice in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly on rural development shortfalls, illegal fishing, and political stability in Sabah.

Political positions

Kurum has publicly acknowledged the development deficit in Telupid and rural Sabah, while cautioning against attributing present shortfalls solely to the current government. He has stressed the need for political unity and stability as prerequisites for Sabah's progress, arguing that internal political instability is a root cause of the state's long-standing challenges [2][8]. In the State Assembly, he has raised concerns about illegal fishing methods — including river poisoning — affecting communities in districts from Labuk to Telupid [2][9]. As GRS Youth chief, he has commented on the tension between GRS grassroots sentiment and the post-2025-election inclusion of BN in the state government, noting that securing grassroots buy-in for any extended GRS-BN electoral pact ahead of GE16 remains a challenge [5][10]. In his assistant ministerial role, he has indicated a focus on building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem and identifying economic potential in rural districts, particularly Telupid [4][3].

Political career

1. September 2020Won the newly created Telupid state seat in the 2020 Sabah state election under PBS, defeating four candidates with a majority of 685 votes.⛓
2. 27 September 2021Appointed Political Secretary to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs, Maximus Ongkili.⛓
3. 2022Concluded role as Political Secretary to Maximus Ongkili; subsequently served as Political Secretary I to Sabah Minister of Local Government and Housing, Joachim Gunsalam.⛓
4. July 2022Acting in his capacity as Political Secretary to the Minister for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs, informed the state assembly that Sabah and Sarawak had submitted names of candidates for the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to the Prime Minister and Finance Ministry.⛓
5. 29 November 2025Successfully defended the Telupid seat in the 17th Sabah State Election under GRS, garnering 3,868 votes with a 1,011-vote majority in a nine-cornered contest.⛓
6. 2 December 2025Sworn in as one of 17 assistant ministers in the new GRS-led Sabah government following the 2025 state election.⛓
7. 3 December 2025Portfolio announced: appointed Assistant Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transport under Minister Ewon Benedick in the Sabah cabinet.⛓

Election history

• 2025Telupid (N47)Won37.6%⛓
• 2020Telupid (N47)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentAppointed as GRS Youth chief and assistant minister, Kurum is positioned within the ruling GRS coalition's next-generation leadership. Minister Ewon Benedick has publicly stated that ministry priorities focused on SMEs, cooperatives, and Sabah-made product standards were discussed directly with Kurum as assistant minister at their first briefing.⛓
• VerifiedFactsTelupid, the constituency Kurum represents, covers 2,210.25 sq km in central Sabah with a population of approximately 29,704. It is located about 200km from Kota Kinabalu and is part of the Heart of Borneo international conservation initiative. Some residents have publicly questioned whether recognition metrics reflect actual infrastructure gaps in the district.⛓
• PublicSome Telupid residents have voiced doubts about development progress, arguing that the district remains underdeveloped and lacks essential infrastructure, even as official indices ranked it among Malaysia's happiest districts in 2025.⛓
• OppositionMalaysiakini reported, citing Sinar Harian, that Kurum used the April 2025 state assembly session to respond to Warisan's corruption criticisms, stating that Sabah could have progressed earlier if individuals had taken personal responsibility to reject corrupt practices.⛓