Mohd Ishak Ayub

Summary

Datuk Mohd Ishak Ayub is the STAR assemblyman for N40 Bingkor, elected in the 17th Sabah State Election on 29 November 2025 with 9,346 votes and a majority of 5,427. He was sworn in as Sabah's Assistant Finance Minister on 2 December 2025 — a direct appointment by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor — and in late December 2025 was named STAR's Acting Deputy President for the Muslim Bumiputera quota. His appointment placed him in the government bloc while STAR's president Jeffrey Kitingan initially remained in the opposition, creating a notable split within the two-seat party that was later resolved when STAR formally aligned with the GRS-led government.

Biography

Datuk Mohd Ishak Ayub is the elected assemblyman for the N40 Bingkor state constituency in Sabah, representing Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR). He won the seat in the 17th Sabah State Election held on 29 November 2025, making him a new face in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly [1]. He contested as one of ten candidates and secured 9,346 votes with a majority of 5,427 votes [2]. Following the election, he was sworn in as Sabah's Assistant Finance Minister on 2 December 2025, making him the sole STAR representative in the state cabinet — a direct appointment by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor rather than a party-negotiated position, as clarified by STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan [3]. On 22 December 2025, he was appointed as one of STAR's acting deputy presidents, fulfilling the Muslim Bumiputera quota within the party [4]. Bingkor is a state constituency located within the Keningau parliamentary constituency in the Interior Division of Sabah, with a predominantly Dusun and Murut electorate. The constituency had 31,305 registered voters at the time of the 17th Sabah state election [5]. Mohd Ishak holds the title of Datuk. No biographical details regarding his education, birth date, or pre-political career were found in allowlist sources at the time of publication.

Known for

Mohd Ishak Ayub is known as the STAR assemblyman for Bingkor who accepted a direct appointment as Sabah's Assistant Finance Minister in December 2025, placing him in the government bloc while his party president Jeffrey Kitingan chose to remain in the opposition — an arrangement that drew significant attention in Sabah's post-election political landscape [2][3]. He was subsequently appointed STAR's Acting Deputy President for the Muslim Bumiputera quota in December 2025 [4].

Political positions

Based on publicly reported statements, Mohd Ishak Ayub has expressed support for government continuity under the GRS-led administration, stating his belief that the re-election of GRS would facilitate the completion of pending development projects in Sabah [6]. He has characterised his acceptance of the assistant minister role as being in the interest of his Bingkor constituents, regardless of whether he sits in the government or opposition bloc, emphasising Sabah's interests as his primary consideration [1]. He has cited STAR's motto of 'Unity is Duty' as a guiding principle for his stance on cooperation with the government [6]. No detailed positions on specific policy areas such as MA63 rights, fiscal federalism, education, or healthcare were found in allowlist sources.

Political career

1. 29 November 2025Contested and won the N40 Bingkor seat in the 17th Sabah State Election under STAR, securing 9,346 votes with a majority of 5,427 in a 10-cornered contest.⛓
2. 2 December 2025Sworn in as Sabah's Assistant Finance Minister before Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu, as part of a cohort of 17 assistant ministers. The appointment was made directly by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and was not a party-negotiated position.⛓
3. 12 December 2025STAR formally declared support for the GRS-led state government, resolving the initial split in which Mohd Ishak sat in the government bloc while party president Jeffrey Kitingan was in opposition.⛓
4. 22 December 2025Appointed as STAR's Acting Deputy President, fulfilling the party's Muslim Bumiputera quota.⛓

Election history

• 2025Bingkor (N40), SabahWon47.1%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentChief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor directly appointed Mohd Ishak as assistant minister, signalling confidence in his role in the GRS-led cabinet despite STAR's initial opposition stance.⛓
• OppositionSTAR president Jeffrey Kitingan described the appointment as a direct, personal decision by the chief minister and not a party-negotiated position, stating: 'It is not a Party-negotiated position. He is the elected representative for Bingkor and we respect his prerogative in accepting the role.'⛓
• VerifiedFactsMohd Ishak Ayub won Bingkor in 2025 with 9,346 votes (majority: 5,427) in a 10-cornered contest; he was sworn in as Sabah's Assistant Finance Minister on 2 December 2025; STAR formally joined the GRS-led government on 12 December 2025; and Mohd Ishak was named STAR Acting Deputy President (Muslim Bumiputera) on 22 December 2025.⛓
• IndustryThe Star reported that Sabah STAR's return to the GRS-led state government drew scrutiny from political circles and analysts, who questioned the party's credibility after it had opposed GRS in the state election.⛓