KOTA KINABALU – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has proposed the formation of a unity government as the formula to end the political stalemate in Sabah.
The proposal apparently had also received the backing of both Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Anwar said Sabah leaders must decide on the matter after visiting the state last night in hope of helping to resolve the political crisis in Sabah.
“The situation is getting better. (Datuk Seri Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi and I are finding the best formula for Sabah.
“The state leaders will decide. We can only advise,” he said when met at the Magellan Sutera Harbour an hour after arriving here following a working visit to Jakarta, Indonesia last night.
Anwar arrived here around 10pm last night and had a brief meeting with Bung Moktar, Shafie and Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) president Datuk Peter Anthony.
Anwar later went to Sri Gaya, the official residence of the Sabah chief minister, where he had a 40-minute meeting with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leaders and several other leaders from other parties.
Also present was GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor who is also Sabah’s chief minister.
Anwar later said he had given his blessing to Hajiji and the current state government, saying it is not left to just Hajiji alone to decide on the solution.
“I would like to thank the chief minister and friends who listen to all views because we want a strong government in Sabah under Hajiji.
“We give space to the chief minister to discuss and find a good formula for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Anwar also stressed the importance of resolving a political crisis in the state, saying Sabah will be tabling an important bill at the special state assembly sitting that is to be held today.
He was referring to the devolution of the gas supervision to the state, where the state government is tabling the gas supply and the state energy commission bill.
“The bill was proposed by me at the federal cabinet and this is a huge opportunity for Sabah to receive this authority,” he said.
Sabah fell into a political crisis after BN ended its cooperation with GRS after Bung accused Hajiji of not keeping his promises.
Hajiji had reshuffled the cabinet and automatically left the Sabah BN ministers without positions in the state.
Bung also questioned Hajiji’s legitimacy as chief minister after he resigned from Bersatu in December last year.
His statement is echoed by Warisan and KDM.
However, five Umno leaders of the 18 BN assemblymen disagreed with Bung and switched their allegiance to GRS.
Combined BN, Warisan and KDM have 35 assemblymen.
At the same time, seven Pakatan Harapan assemblymen had also supported Hajiji during the stalemate.
Combined, Hajiji had the support of 44 assemblymen, including an independent candidate, one from Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and others.
At this point, the crisis has not ended until the proposed unity government is established. – The Vibes, January 10, 2022
