Pg Saifuddin Pg Tahir Petra

Summary

Datuk Pengiran Saifuddin Pengiran Tahir Petra is the ADUN for Pantai Manis (N29), Sabah, elected in November 2025 under the GRS-GAGASAN banner with a majority of 2,131 votes. Before entering politics, he spent approximately 40 years in Sabah's public and corporate sectors, including senior roles at KKIP and SEDCO, and holds an MBA from Universiti Malaysia Sabah. In the State Legislative Assembly, he has spoken in support of Sabah's 40% state revenue entitlement and has emphasised economic development, infrastructure, and agriculture as priorities for his constituency.

Biography

Datuk Pengiran Saifuddin Pengiran Tahir Petra is a Sabah politician and Member of the State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Pantai Manis (N29), under the Papar parliamentary constituency. He represents Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN) within the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition [1]. He entered state politics as a first-time candidate in the 17th Sabah State Election held on 29 November 2025, winning the Pantai Manis seat with 6,755 votes and a majority of 2,131 over his nearest rival from Barisan Nasional [1]. Prior to entering politics, Saifuddin held a career spanning approximately 40 years in the public and corporate sectors [2]. He served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) from 1997 to 2010, and subsequently as Managing Director of Sabah Urban Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (SUDC), the property development arm of SEDCO, from September 2010 [3]. He later rose to become Group General Manager of the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) [3]. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Universiti Malaysia Sabah [3]. The Pantai Manis constituency has approximately 20,026 registered voters and forms one of three state seats under the Papar parliamentary constituency [1]. Since taking office, Saifuddin has participated in Sabah State Legislative Assembly debates, including on the Sabah Supply Bill 2026, where he spoke on Sabah's claim to its 40% state revenue entitlement [2].

Known for

Saifuddin is identified as one of GRS's new faces elected in the 17th Sabah State Election, having successfully won the Pantai Manis seat on his first electoral contest [2]. He is known for his extensive pre-political career in Sabah's state economic development institutions, including SEDCO and KKIP [2]. In the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, he has spoken on Sabah's fiscal rights, asserting that the recovery of the state's 40% revenue entitlement is an economic necessity for Sabah's development [2].

Political positions

In the Sabah State Legislative Assembly debate on the Sabah Supply Bill 2026 (December 2025), Saifuddin asserted that restoring Sabah's 40% state revenue entitlement is an important economic necessity, arguing that its full realisation would have a large impact on the state's fiscal position and enable greater allocation to public development, infrastructure and public services [2]. During his 2025 election campaign, he emphasised economic development, basic infrastructure, agriculture, and community welfare as his priorities for Pantai Manis, and highlighted the constituency's potential in cottage industries, fisheries, and the growing Benoni town area near the Pan-Borneo Highway [2]. He framed the GRS development manifesto as his guiding platform, and indicated that he would draw on his 40-year career in public and corporate sectors to plan and manage development in the constituency in an orderly manner [2].

Education

1. Date unknownObtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Universiti Malaysia Sabah.⛓

Before politics

1. 1997–2010Served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) for approximately 13 years.⛓
2. September 2010Appointed Managing Director of Sabah Urban Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (SUDC), the property development arm of SEDCO. Also served as Managing Director of Sabah Urban Development Corporation for three years, per Bernama reporting.⛓
3. Date unknown (post-2010)Appointed Group General Manager of Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), succeeding Maisuri Besri who was assigned to head Sabah Ports.⛓

Political career

1. November 2025Nominated as GRS-GAGASAN candidate for the Pantai Manis (N29) state seat in the 17th Sabah State Election.⛓
2. 29 November 2025Won the Pantai Manis state seat in the 17th Sabah State Election with 6,755 votes and a majority of 2,131, becoming ADUN for Pantai Manis under the GRS-GAGASAN banner.⛓
3. December 2025Participated in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly debate on the Sabah Supply Bill 2026, asserting that restoring Sabah's 40% state revenue entitlement is an economic necessity for the state's development.⛓

Election history

• 2025Pantai Manis (N29), SabahWon45.5%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentGRS Chairman and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor campaigned for Saifuddin at Pantai Manis on the eve of polling, stating that Papar would progress further if all three state seats in the Papar parliamentary constituency were won by GRS, explicitly naming Saifuddin as one of the three GRS candidates.⛓
• VerifiedFactsOfficial Election Commission results confirmed Saifuddin won Pantai Manis with 6,755 votes and a majority of 2,131 in a seven-cornered contest. He was identified by Bernama as one of five new faces elected under GRS in the 17th Sabah State Election.⛓
• VerifiedFactsGAGASAN (Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah), under which Saifuddin stood, is the largest party in the GRS coalition and is led by Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor following his takeover of the party in January 2023.⛓