KOTA KINABALU – Two Sabah Umno leaders who defied the party’s move to pull support from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) said they are ready to face any punishment from the party.
Tg Keramat assemblyman cum Putatan MP Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and Sugut assemblyman Datuk James Ratib stood their ground today as they face expulsion following Umno’s constitutional amendment to penalise dissidents.
On January 13, the Barisan Nasional (BN) linchpin passed two amendments to the party’s constitution where members will automatically lose their membership if they go against the party’s wishes.
Both Shahelmy and James said they had gone against Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin as they felt the time for politicking had to stop with their duty now being to focus on the people.
The duo also claimed they have not received any notice from the party as yet.
“We are leaving our fate to the party. There is nothing we can do. It is Umno itself which had pulled out from the GRS-BN government.
“We are elected representatives and we have defended the current government because we know the people are fed up with today’s political power plays.
“So we decided to follow what the people wanted.
“Bung said the game is still on, so we just wait (and see) what will happen,” James told reporters when met during his visit to a local hypermarket at a Chinese New Year goods’ price-setting ceremony.
James was made the state’s community development and people’s well-being minister in the GRS-led Sabah government following a minor cabinet reshuffle last week.
Shahelmy, who was promoted as Sabah deputy chief minister III and state works minister in the reshuffle, also echoed James sentiment, saying he could only state that he is still an Umno member at the moment.
Shahelmy took on Bung’s former ministerial role in the newly formed state cabinet.
“The time for politics must stop. It is time to serve the people. We can do politics again when the election comes around,” said Shahelmy in reference to the next state polls scheduled for 2025.
Shahelmy was met during his visit to the Moyog water treatment plant in Penampang.
The three remaining Umno rebels – Datuk Jasnih Daya, Datuk Yusof Yacob, and Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari – could not be reached for comment. – The Vibes, January 16, 2023
