KOTA KINABALU, Oct. 26 -- The 17th Sabah state election (PRN17) is shaping up to be one of the most crowded and unpredictable contests in the state's history, with at least five-cornered fights expected across all 73 seats.

At least five blocs have pledged to contest all seats, but in a state where politics is often compared to a chess game, many more players and would-be kingmakers are likely to join the fray.

Five major blocs

The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance, the state's largest bloc with nine component parties, plans to contest all 73 seats - though overlaps and "friendly fights" are expected.

Parti Warisan, led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, and the new Gabungan Bersatu Sabah pact led by Parti Solida...