BEAUFORT, Jan. 19 -- In the straight fight between Warisan's 66-year-old candidate Datuk Karim Bujang and Umno's 48-year-old Datuk Mohamad Alamin, pundits said it would be unpredictable and a close race from the start as both men had their pros and cons, with the common factor being they had equally lost in Election 2018.

Throughout the two-week campaign and even on polling day, analysts and observers maintained their 50-50 forecast, as both parties claimed to have the people's support.

Umno's strategy seemed focused on one message to stir up local sentiment and concern on illegal immigrants through the Sabah Temporary Pass, better known by its Malay initials of PSS.

Warisan, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, was more abou...