This was the first Sabah state election to feature peninsula-based party United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan was sworn in as chief minister of Sabah, his fourth time, on 21 February 1994, together with the state EXCO members.

Jeffery Kitingan, Pairin's brother, also left PBS and joined Angkatan Keadilan Rakyat (AKAR).

The outcome of this election and the defections resulted in the term katak being coined in, the literal meaning of which is "frog", due to the actions of PBS members "jumping" to another political party.

Sakaran only become CM for less than one year before resigning and accepting the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah role on 1 January 1995; Salleh Said Keruak replaced him.