KOTA BELUD, Nov. 20 -- Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal warned that Sabah may one day see up to even 50 candidates contesting a single seat, if the trend of multi-cornered contests continues.

He said while certain quarters, including some among the younger generation may deem it as "democracy at work", the reality is that people are allowing themselves to be split instead of being united and for others to take advantage.

The former chief minister was referring to the record 596 candidates taking part in the 17th Sabah Election come Nov 29. Many of the contests involve 10 to 12-cornered fights, with Tulid in the interior registering 14 contenders.

Shafie said having 10 or 11 contenders for a seat reflects a troubling level of f...