Joseph Pairin Kitingan Barisan Nasional, (PBS) Joseph Pairin Kitingan Barisan Nasional, (PBS) The 1990 Sabah state election was held between Monday, 16 July and Tuesday, 17 July 1990.

PBS' Joseph Pairin Kitingan were sworn in as Chief Minister for the third time, on 18 July 1990.

[5] On October that year, just before the 1990 Malaysian general election, Pairin announced PBS exit from BN and joining Gagasan Rakyat coalition with Democratic Action Party (DAP).

[6] BERJAYA continued its decline from its heyday as a government in 1976-1985 with defeats in all constituencies, including in Sipitang where its leader Harris Salleh lost to PBS and garnering only 969 votes.

The following year on 21 February, USNO were changed into a new entity, the Sabah chapter of Peninsula-based United Malays National Organization (UMNO) under BN.