Joachim Gunsalam (born 22 January 1958) is a Malaysian politician and physician who has served as the Deputy Chief Minister I of Sabah and State Minister of Works and Utilities of Sabah in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state administration under Chief Minister Hajiji Noor since December 2025, as well as Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kundasang since March 2004. He previously served as State Minister of Housing and Local Government of Sabah from January 2023 until November 2025. He is a member of the United Sabah Party (PBS), a component party of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and formerly Barisan Nasional (BN) coalitions. He served as the Acting President of PBS from June 2024 until he officially hold the post since September 2026. He previously served as Deputy President of PBS for the Non-Muslim Bumiputera quota from June 2022 until September 2026.
Career
He was appointed as one of the Deputy Chief Ministers of Sabah as part of the victorious Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition in the 2020 and 2025 state elections.
Election results + Sabah State Legislative AssemblyYearConstituencyVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout2004N29 KundasangJoachim Gunsalam (PBS)3,09154.12%Kaibi Laiman (SETIA)1,09719.21% 5,931 1,997 68.31%Arimin Moidi (IND)1,07518.82%Asidin Teilok (keADILan)4487.85%2008Joachim Gunsalam (PBS)3,59754.77%Japiril Suhaimin (IND)1,79127.26%6,7801,80670.47%Karim Adam (PKR)1,18017.97%2013Joachim Gunsalam (PBS)4,20641.93%Satiol Indong (PKR)2,23122.23%10,2951,97577.40%Japiril Suhaimin (SAPP)2,10220.96%Jain Sauting (STAR)1,11711.14%Sam Hondou (IND)2882.87%Cleftus Stephen Spine (IND)870.87%2018 Joachim Gunsalam (PBS)3,971 37.14%Siriman Basir (WARISAN)3,71634.76%11,070 255 74.50%Japiril Suhaimin (STAR)2,10519.69%Henrynus Amin(ANAK NEGERI)7336.86%Jinus Sodiong (PKS)1661.55%2020N36 KundasangJoachim Gunsalam (PBS)4,332 43.35%Siriman Basir (WARISAN)2,91029.12%9,994 1,422 66.69%Ewon Ebin (PCS)2,38423.85% Jeafry Goh Kautah (LDP)2932.93% Osman Marajin (USNO Baru)750.75%2025 Joachim Gunsalam (PBS)4,64028.97%Jackson Musi (IND)3,60922.53%16,2191,03165.98%Jattry Abie @ Jeffry Mohd Ali (KDM)2,83317.69%Japirin Sahadi (PBRS)1,87711.72%Japiril Suhaimin (SAPP)1,2797.99%Jeffrey Gopog (WARISAN)9866.16%Rogers Tiam (UPKO)5303.31%Atong Antong (Sabah BERSATU)1540.96%Edward Jamkim (IMPIAN)640.40%Nazarul Khaiwala Wahab(ANAK NEGERI)440.27%
Honours
Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2022) Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk (2012) Companion of the Order of Kinabalu (ASDK) (2006) Justice of the Peace (JP) (2024)
References