Six Sabah lawmakers have defected to Parti Warisan Sabah, thereby increasing the number of seats held by the latter and its allies.

According to Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal, he has informed the Sabah governor that Warisan now has the numbers to form the Sabah government.

“I have the statutory declarations where each and every member of the state assembly has declared support for me to become the chief minister.

“That clearly shows we now command the majority in the House. So there’s no doubt about the ability for me to be sworn in, in accordance with the law.”

Shafie said this at a press conference at which he was accompanied by the six state assemblypersons who crossed over, as well as other Warisan, PKR and DAP leaders.

The latest configuration now, if recognised, would mean that Warisan and its allies have 35 seats in the 60 seat assembly, allowing it to form the state government.

Shafie said it was now the Sabah governor's prerogative whether to compel Musa Aman, who was sworn-in as chief minister last night, to step down.

He then expressed hope that the process for him to be sworn in as chief minister would be expedited.

“We don’t want to drag this. There is no government running the state at the moment.

Asked whether he expected to be sworn in tonight, Shafie said it was not up to him to say, again pointing out that it was up to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

Musa urged to step down

Nevertheless, Shafie urged Musa (photo) to step down since he no longer has the majority in the state assembly.

He pointed out even if six state assemblypersons were appointed, which is provided for in the state constitution, this would still not be enough for BN to form a government.

Asked what he would do if Musa refused to step down, Shafie expressed hope that it would not come to a vote of no confidence in the state assembly.

“It would be embarrassing for him, but we will do it, if it is necessary. We are requesting that everyone follows the law,” he said.

The six defectors are Abdul Muis Pichu (Umno-Sebatik), Hamisa Samat (Umno-Tanjong Batu), Osman Jamal (Umno-Balung), Jamawi Jaafar (Umno-Kemabong), Ewon Benedick (Upko-Kedamaian) and Abidin Madingkir (Upko-Paginatan).

Sabah BN won 29 state seats in the 14th general election, the same number of seats won collectively by Warisan and its electoral partners DAP and PKR.

However, after Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) decided to cooperate with BN, it gained two more seats, thereby enabling the BN to form the state government with a simple majority.