Former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman lost in his appeal to challenge Warisan party president Mohd Shafie Apdal's appointment as chief minister.

Bernama today reported that the Sabah Court of Appeal dismissed with costs Musa's appeal against the dismissal of his suit by a lower court.

The three-member bench comprising justices Kamardin Hashim, Rhodzariah Bujang and Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah allowed the respondents' preliminary objection to strike out the appeal.

In reading out the decision, Kamardin ordered Musa to pay RM20,000 to the first respondent, Yang Dipertua of Sabah Juhar Mahiruddin, and RM80,000 to Shafie, who is the second respondent.

Musa was represented by counsel Tengku Fuad Tengku Ahmad, Anantham Kasinather and S Vanugopal, while Juhar and Mohd Shafie were represented by Sabah attorney-general Zaleha Rose Pandin and Douglas Lind respectively.

Commenting the appellate court’s decision, Shafie later told reporters at Parliament that it came at the right time.

“Not only must we know that the laws of this country must proceed well but that we should not delay it to the point we jeopardise the running of the state, what more country,” he said.

“Justice delayed is justice denied.”

He said the judgement also established the power of the rulers to dissolve the state assembly if to elect a chief minister who commanded the majority.

Additional reporting by Fion Yap.