KOTA KINABALU – The notion that Sabah is in a political crisis is only true for state Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said today.
“Yes, it is him (Bung Moktar), it is his own story,” Hajiji told reporters in response to Bung Moktar’s claim that the crisis was not over, despite confirmation of his majority support and a reshuffling of the state cabinet.
Hajiji, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman, said he would take action against the remaining Umno leaders who sided with Bung Moktar in withdrawing support from him and the GRS-led government last week.
“Give me space to think on how we should run the state well. We need to look into all aspects of this question (of taking action).
“Do not worry, we will take the right action. Most of all, the action must be for the benefit of the state and her people,” Hajiji said after an event at Sabah International Convention Centre here.
The remaining Umno assemblymen who sided with Bung Moktar are still assistant ministers in Hajiji’s administration.
They are Mohd Tamin Zainal (industrial development), Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain (local government and housing), Harun Durabi (rural development) and Datuk Andi Muhamad Suryady Bandy (youth and sports).
Yesterday, Bung Moktar said the crisis he triggered on January 6 was far from over, claiming there was still “unrest” in the state.
The Lamag assemblyman’s stance is that the legitimacy of Hajiji’s GRS government is questionable, as the state government was first formed through a Barisan Nasional (BN)-Perikatan Nasional (PN) pact after the state election in 2020.
GRS has now distanced itself from PN, with Hajiji and other Sabah elected representatives quitting Bersatu, PN’s lead party, to declare themselves “direct GRS members”.
Bung Moktar and all but five Sabah BN assemblymen had last week pulled support from Hajiji, and were speculated to join forces with Warisan to launch a coup – which ultimately failed after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave his blessings for Hajiji to continue leading the state government and advised him to form a unity government.
Hajiji then axed Bung Moktar from the state cabinet, removing him as deputy chief minister and state works minister, and gave those positions to Tanjung Keramat assemblyman Datuk Shahelmey Yahya from Umno, who did not go along with Bung Moktar’s plan.
Four other Umno state lawmakers who did not obey Bung Moktar are Datuk Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk), and Datuk James Ratib (Sugut).
James has been made community development and people wellbeing minister in the cabinet reshuffle, while Yusof was named the new chairman of Sabah’s state investment arm, Qhazanah Sabah Bhd. – The Vibes, January 14, 2023
