Sabah BN has no deadline to return to power, says Bung amid bid to engineer defections
As the nation's focus is centred on the status of the federal government, Sabah BN and its allies are working on fanning the winds of change in the land below the wind.
According to Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin, there has been encouraging progress convincing ruling lawmakers to switch camps to facilitate a change of state government.
As the nation's focus is centred on the status of the federal government, Sabah BN and its allies are working on fanning the winds of change in the land below the wind.
According to Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin (photo, above), there has been encouraging progress convincing ruling lawmakers to switch camps to facilitate a change of state government.
His statement comes in the wake of claims that the attempt to oust the Warisan-led state government last week following the departure of two state assemblypersons from United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) had failed.
Aware of the speculation, Bung said: "Yes, I heard about it. But there is no time frame in (our plan) to change the state government.”
The Kinabatangan MP admitted that he is contacting and meeting several state lawmakers as well as MPs daily to persuade them to leave their respective parties.
"Everyday, we talk over the phone, (I) discuss with them, we meet at coffee shops," he told Malaysiakini, without mentioning names.
Bung said their response has been positive after highlighting the purported shortcomings of Warisan and its allies.
"I don't want to say if I am successful or not. I cannot give you the number (of lawmakers approached). But they are positive, some asked for time to consider,” he added.
Bung revealed that he had been in touch with Kuala Penyu representative Limus Jury and Sugut representative James Ratib, who quit Upko on July 15.
Asked if their exit from Upko could be credited to him, the veteran politician replied: "Maybe."
Difficult to rattle Shafie's grip on power
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source close to Sabah Bersatu dismissed an allegation that it is also engineering the defections of ruling assemblypersons.
"I am not aware of any attempt to disrupt the state government. This is just speculation. I don't see any unusual political movement (to topple the state government)," he told Malaysiakini.
He said the opposition in Sabah controlled fewer seats in the state to rattle Chief Minister Shafie Apdal's (photo) administration compared to the four states which fell to Perikatan Nasional after the alliance seized federal power through a political coup in February.
The Warisan-led Sabah government controls 45 out of the 65 state seats in Sabah.
The state assembly comprises 60 elected seats and five more nominated by the state government.
A simple majority requires 33 seats, regardless of whether it is an elected or nominated member.
The government bloc has 41 elected assemblypersons comprising Warisan (31), DAP (6), Upko (2) and PKR (2).
They also have four nominated assemblypersons – two from Warisan, one from Upko and one from DAP.
Meanwhile, the opposition has 20 assemblypersons, comprising 19 elected members and one nominated member.
The 19 are from Bersatu (9), PBS (4), STAR (3) and Umno (1) as well as the two independents who recently quit Upko.
The sole nominated member on the opposition bench was formerly from PKR but quit the party and is now an opposition-friendly independent.
CM might call for snap polls
A source close to Sabah Pakatan Harapan said the ruling parties believe that the worst is over concerning the attempt to topple the state government.
He claimed that PN is targeting lawmakers, who were previously with the Sabah BN administration, to cross over.
"Last Monday, after two Upko lawmakers quit, speculation had been rife that another four would do the same, but this did not happen.
"Prior to that, a Sabah Bersatu leader told his supporters that something would happen last Tuesday. That too, did not materialise.
"If you have the numbers, why not topple the state government instead of charging a state minister (Peter Anthony)? For us, the worst has passed,” he added.
On June 11, the Warisan vice-president was charged at the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court with five counts of money laundering charges amounting to RM8.75mil.
On June 18, Peter (photo) was charged with abetment in a criminal breach of trust involving the purchase of Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) land worth RM15.5mil six years ago.
Last Tuesday, he was supposed to be charged with corruption at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court but this was postponed to July 10 after he was hospitalised.
The source believed the move to charge the state minister was aimed at pressuring Shafie to support PN as Harapan and its allies struggled to resolve the impasse over who should be its prime minister candidate if Putrajaya is recaptured through a countercoup.
The source speculated that it could also be to pressure those approached by Sabah BN to defect.
However, the source said Shafee could instead choose to dissolve the state assembly and call for a fresh election if the defections materialise.
In the event of fresh polls, the source added, the elected representatives would be forced to explain their decision to their respective constituents.
The source also claimed that the lawmakers are waiting to see what transpires at the federal level before deciding since Harapan and its allies claim to have the required numbers.
"They are holding back on supporting PN due to the possibility of a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin during next month's Parliament sitting,” he added.
Sabah BN's resounding victory in the Kimanis by-election and the acquittal of former state chief minister Musa Aman on corruption and money laundering charges have boosted its confidence of retaking the government.
Sabah Umno, according to sources, is hoping that the Federal Court, which is slated to hear Musa's appeal, would rule that he is the rightful chief minister.
However, Bersatu, with the support of nine lawmakers, is said to be eyeing the top post if Warisan is shown the exit.
Commenting on this, Bung said it is still premature to discuss the chief minister issue.
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