KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor lost his legitimacy as chief minister when he quit Bersatu on December 10, claimed Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Shafie said that the current elected assemblymen did not contest under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the 2020 state election and are originally from Perikatan Nasional (PN)
“Any statements from the chief minister or his followers (who have left Bersatu) to appease the people will not stop speculations about his position as the state’s top leader.
“Article 6(3), read with Article 6(7), of the Sabah constitution requires the chief minister to be the leader of the party that won the majority of the elected seats in the 2020 state election.
“The chief minister having left Bersatu is no longer a member or leader of any political party,” said Shafie referring to Hajiji’s GRS not being an official entity when it contested the state polls more than two years ago.
GRS was officially registered on March 13, 2022, as a loose coalition mooted by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the 2020 state election, involving Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Sabah Progressive Party, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku and United Sabah National Organisation.
“Hajiji making a statement about forming a new political party to keep his position is not just proof of ‘party-hopping’ but a betrayal of the people’s mandate who voted for GRS when it was led by Bersatu/PN,” said Shafie in a press conference here today.
“Nobody knows whether Hajiji still commands majority support in the assembly, but the elected representatives have the right to choose another elected member to be the chief minister by presenting their choice to the governor at any time.
“The political chaos here is the result of Hajiji’s actions to keep his post after the 15th general election as Bersatu/PN are no longer part of the federal government.”
Shafie also urged Hajiji to do the right thing and step down as chief minister.
Sabah’s assembly has 79 seats and requires a coalition to garner a simple majority of 40 to form the state government.
GRS currently has the support of 34 assemblymen – 29 from their own ranks plus five from Barisan Nasional who disagreed with Sabah BN chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin’s decision to exit the GRS-BN pact.
Sources have told The Vibes that GRS could garner up to 36 seats by roping in assemblymen from smaller parties, which would equal those across the aisle comprising Bung’s 13, Warisan’s 19, Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat’s three and an independent.
Hajiji had said he would reshuffle the Sabah cabinet prior to Bung’s announcement last night. – The Vibes, January 7, 2023
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