Abidin Bin Madingkir

• Mayor of Kota Kinabalu (2011–2016)
• Held permanent secretary roles in key ministries (Tourism, Agriculture, Industry) before entering elective politics
• Elected ADUN Paginatan in 2018 (majority: 2,066 votes under UPKO) and re-elected in 2020 (majority: 1,323 votes under STAR)
• Appointed State Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister starting October 2020
• Holds vice-presidential position within STAR since October 2021

• State Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah, serving since 8 October 2020 under Chief Minister Hajiji Noor
• Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Paginatan since May 2018, winning in both the 2018 and 2020 elections
• Former Mayor of Kota Kinabalu, a notable milestone as the first person from Ranau to hold that position (2011–2016)
• Held senior civil service roles as Deputy Permanent Secretary in various state ministries (Tourism & Environment; Agriculture & Food Industries; Industry)
• Held leadership roles in NGOs: Chairman of Borneo Conservation Trust, advisor to Sabah Cancer Volunteers–Team Ranau, and legal adviser for the HAKKA Association in Ranau
• Formerly with UPKO (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation) under BN (until 2018), then joined STAR (Homeland Solidarity Party) in 2020, a component of GRS
• Currently serves as Vice President of STAR (Non-Muslim Bumiputera quota) since October 2021

Sacked by UPKO for Supporting Musa Aman’s Coup Attempt (July 2020)

Datuk Abidin Madingkir, then Vice-President of UPKO, was expelled from the party after allegedly aligning with former Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman in an attempt to topple the Sabah state government. UPKO described it as an act of defection that sought to “ransack the state government,” which ultimately failed when the state legislative assembly was dissolved.The StarMalaysiakini

Mass Defection Context – Active Political Realignment

Around the same political upheaval, a wave of defections rocked Sabah’s political landscape. Abidin was among several assemblymen rumored to have switched allegiance to back Musa Aman’s faction to form a new government.RedditWikipedia

Sharp Reprimand to Colleagues Over Complaints (April 2025)

In a state assembly session addressing poverty and welfare programs, Abidin responded to criticisms with a biting remark: “If you want to complain, might as well resign.” While not a legal controversy, his tone sparked a stir in the assembly and public commentary.Sabah Media

State Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister (Since October 2020)

Abidin has served as the State Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) administration, led by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor. He began in this role in October 2020.Wikipedia

Championing Territorial and Maritime Security (November 2024)

As Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, he emphasized forming a parliamentary select committee to address Sabah’s maritime security. He reiterated that key legislations like the Territorial Sea Act 2012 and Continental Shelf Act are non-negotiable, and highlighted Sabah’s diplomatic efforts and enforcement through agencies like the RMN and MMEA to uphold sovereignty.The Star

Political Alliance Building – MOU Between StarSabah and PBS (April 2024)

Abidin played a pivotal role in facilitating a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between STAR Sabah and PBS. This accord was aimed at preventing multi-cornered contests in upcoming state elections and strengthening the GRS coalition within Paginatan and beyond.Warta OrientalBorneo Daily Bulletin