Manahing Tinggilani

Summary

Manahing Tinggilani is a Parti Warisan Sabah politician who won the N73 Sebatik state seat in the 17th Sabah State Election on 29 November 2025 with 2,795 votes in a ten-cornered contest. Post-election reporting identifies him as a former assemblyman for the same constituency, suggesting prior legislative experience in Sebatik. He has been publicly active on the Malaysia-Indonesia border demarcation issue directly affecting residents of Pulau Sebatik, engaging with federal mapping authorities in February 2026.

Biography

Manahing Tinggilani (also recorded as Manahing Tinggilani @ Tanggilani) is a Malaysian politician from Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) representing the N73 Sebatik state constituency in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly. He won the seat in the 17th Sabah State Election on 29 November 2025, securing 2,795 votes in a ten-cornered contest, with a majority of 150 votes over the second-placed GRS candidate Hassan A. Gani Pg. Amir, who obtained 2,645 votes [1]. Warisan nominated him for Sebatik as part of its full slate of 73 state candidates announced in November 2025 [2]. Malaysiakini reporting published in February 2026 identifies him as a former Sebatik state assemblyman, indicating prior legislative service in the constituency before his 2025 victory [3]. Pulau Sebatik, the island he represents, lies off the eastern coast of Borneo, is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia along latitude 4°10' North, and has a Malaysian-side population of approximately 25,000 [4]. Shortly after the election, Manahing and fellow Warisan leader Ma'mun Sulaiman received a briefing from the Federal Survey and Mapping Department (Jupem) on the Malaysia-Indonesia border demarcation affecting Sebatik Island, and relayed to the public that only seven households on the island were directly affected by the boundary adjustment [3]. He attributed the historical boundary dispute to imprecise manual mapping conducted during British and Dutch colonial administration [3]. As part of Warisan's 25-seat bloc in the 2025 hung Sabah assembly, he sits in opposition to the GRS-led state government [5].

Known for

Manahing Tinggilani is the Warisan assemblyman for N73 Sebatik, a border island constituency straddling the Malaysia-Indonesia frontier, having won the seat in the 2025 Sabah state election. He is publicly associated with the Malaysia-Indonesia boundary demarcation issue directly affecting Sebatik residents, having received federal Jupem briefings and communicated findings to his constituents. News reporting describes him as a former Sebatik assemblyman, indicating a prior term representing the same constituency.

Political positions

Based on available sourced reporting, Manahing Tinggilani's public positions have centred on the Malaysia-Indonesia border demarcation affecting Pulau Sebatik. After receiving a Jupem briefing in February 2026, he stated that the boundary dispute stems from colonial-era manual mapping by the British and Dutch and that only seven households on Sebatik were directly affected by the new boundary adjustment. He has worked to ensure constituents receive accurate information on the border changes and their implications for residency and land ownership. No additional policy positions have been located from allowlist sources.

Political career

1. 12 November 2025Warisan nominated Manahing Tinggilani @ Tanggilani as its candidate for the N73 Sebatik seat ahead of the 17th Sabah State Election.⛓
2. 29 November 2025Manahing Tinggilani won the N73 Sebatik seat for Warisan in the 17th Sabah State Election, securing 2,795 votes in a ten-cornered contest and defeating GRS candidate Hassan A. Gani Pg. Amir (2,645 votes) by a majority of 150.⛓
3. February 2026Together with Warisan leader Ma'mun Sulaiman, Manahing received a briefing from the Federal Survey and Mapping Department (Jupem) on the Malaysia-Indonesia border demarcation affecting Pulau Sebatik, and conveyed to the public that only seven households on the island were directly affected by the new boundary adjustment.⛓

Election history

• 2025N73 SebatikWon27.03%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsManahing Tinggilani won the N73 Sebatik seat for Warisan on 29 November 2025 with 2,795 votes and a majority of 150 over GRS's Hassan A. Gani Pg. Amir (2,645 votes). Warisan won 25 seats overall in the 2025 Sabah state election; GRS formed the government with 29 seats in a hung assembly.⛓
• OppositionWarisan leaders including Manahing have advocated for transparency for Sebatik residents on the Malaysia-Indonesia border demarcation, noting the issue originates from colonial-era boundary imprecision and that affected households must be properly informed of their rights and options.⛓
• GovernmentThe Sabah state government, represented by Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, maintained that state interests were protected throughout the border negotiation process and that the Pulau Sebatik boundary demarcation was based on established international agreements and did not constitute a loss of sovereignty, with Sabah agencies represented at every stage of negotiations.⛓