CM rotation system

After BN regains power in Sabah in 1994, it introduced Chief Minister rotation system between Muslim bumiputera, Non-Muslim bumiputera, and Chinese leaders for two year tenure each. This was one of the promises of BN during the 1994 election campaign. For the Muslim bumiputera quota, Osu Sukam of UMNO becomes CM after BN won in the 1999 elections. He held the role until 2001, when Chong Kah Kiat of LDP becomes CM, filling the Chinese/Non-Muslim bumiputera quota in a slightly changed rotation system.^[4] In 2003, Kah Kiat hands over the CM role to Musa Aman from UMNO, who scrapped the rotation system after BN dominates in the 2004 state election, with 59 wins out of 60 seats contested.

PBS rejoins BN

After PBS failed to wrestle control of the state from BN, PBS central committee decided on 2001 to apply for re-entry into BN, and was officially accepted back into BN on 23 January 2002.^[5] This contributed to the near-domination of BN in the 2004 election as stated above.

As of 2023, this is the last election PBS was considered as a major party in Sabah, as afterwards PBS only exists as a coalition partner for other parties.