[UPDATED] Hajiji’s reshuffled Sabah cabinet antithetical to unity govt: Shafie

KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor’s reshuffled Sabah cabinet does not reflect a unity government as suggested by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Shafie, who is state opposition leader, has accused the chief minister of violating the agreement and consensus to set up a unity government in Sabah, which was supposed to consist of all parties in the federal unity government.

The cooperation, he said, will resolve the political crisis in Sabah and strengthen the country’s administration.

This comes after a new Sabah cabinet led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Hajiji was sworn in today.  

Shafie also urged for the immediate formation of a special committee to work on details relating to the state unity government.  

The recommendation was also agreed upon and supported by Umno and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat, who were also present during the meeting, he added.  

Anwar on January 9 had said the final decision on the state government lies in the hands of Sabah's political top brass. 

“We could only advise them.”

The state fell into a crisis after Barisan Nasional broke its cooperation with GRS, where Hajiji’s legitimacy came into question after he resigned from Bersatu.

When Hajiji unveiled the state cabinet reshuffle yesterday, Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin was dropped as deputy chief minister, replaced by Umno’s Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.

Bung Moktar was among those from Umno who were dropped, while two PH reps were included.

Warisan and KDM, which both questioned Hajiji’s legitimacy to be chief minister last week, were excluded from the new state cabinet lineup. – The Vibes, January 12, 2023