Joniston Bangkuai (born 17 April 1962) is a Malaysian politician and journalist who has served as State Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition under Chief Minister Hajiji Noor since December 2025, State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah under Ministers Jafry Ariffin and Christina Liew Chin Jin from October 2020 until November 2025 and Chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) since December 2020, as well as Member of Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kiulu since May 2013. He is a member of the United Sabah Party (PBS), a component party of the GRS coalition. He served as the Secretary-General of PBS from January 2021 to June 2022, Information Chief of PBS from July 2022 until September 2026 and currently serving as the Deputy President of PBS for the Non-Muslim Bumiputera quota since September 2026.
Career Before entering politics full-time in 2013, Joniston Bangkuai spent more than three decades as a prominent mainstream journalist, making him one of Sabah's most well-known media figures.
Election results
+ Parliament of MalaysiaYearConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout2022P170 Tuaran (PBS) 24,710 42.44% (UPKO)24,94342.84%58,22723369.80%Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas (WARISAN)5,7289.84%Noortaip Suhaili @ Sualee (IND)2,0083.45%Muminin B. Norbinsha (PEJUANG)4450.76%Boby Lewat (IND)3930.67%
+ Sabah State Legislative AssemblyYearConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout2013N11 Kiulu (PBS)3,74541.08%Rhodes Panilau (PKR)3,70140.60%9,288 44 81.50%Terence Sinti (STAR)1,02511.24% John Hussein (IND)5175.67% Tindil Gonsobil (SAPP)1291.41% 2018Joniston Bangkuai (PBS)4,33642.39%Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas (WARISAN)2,89328.28%10,459 1,443 80.70%Terence Sinti (STAR)2,45724.02% Gaibin Ransoi (PCS)5435.31% 2020N15 Kiulu Joniston Bangkuai (PBS)4,00751.93% (UPKO)2,78636.11% 7,716 1,221 70.87%Andau Yasun @ Bruno (PCS)3634.70% Rozylyn @ Rosalyn Gelunu (LDP)2743.55%Dominic Yasun (IND)2663.45% Jolianis Lampog (IND)200.26%2025Joniston Bangkuai (PBS)4,31636.51%Terence Sinti (STAR)2,87924.35%11,9351,43769.53%Joisin Romut (UPKO)2,73623.14%Henry Saimpon (KDM)1,19210.08%Saibin Gunsari (WARISAN)3893.29%Trevor Maringking (ANAK NEGERI)1761.49%Niyky @ Niky J Bosikol (IMPIAN)780.66%Dusi Gingging (PKS)560.47%
Honours
Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk (2006) Justice of the Peace (JP) (2010)
References