GRS dismisses Bung's claim that Hajiji has no locus standi to remain Sabah CM

GRS secretary-general Masidi Manjun has dismissed Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin’s claim that Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has no locus standi to remain in the post after having quit Bersatu.

In a statement this morning, Masidi (above) said Bung’s claim had no merit given that Hajiji was “constitutionally and legitimately” sworn in as chief minister.

Masidi said Bung was attempting to say that Hajiji was not qualified to be a chief minister under Article 6(7) of the Sabah Constitution.

The article reads: “For the purpose of Clause (3) of this article, where a political party has won a majority of the elected seats of the legislative assembly in a general election, the leader of a such political party, who is a member of the legislative assembly, shall be the member of the legislative assembly who is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Assembly.”

However, Masidi cited a ruling by High Court judge Yew Jen Kie who stated that Article 6 (7) will not apply unless a political party manages to win more than 50 percent of the seats following a state election.

"In 2022 (GE15), no single political party won more than 50 percent of the 73 seats contested.

"Therefore, following the High Court and Court of Appeal's interpretation of Article 6(7), the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Juhar Mahiruddin) first observed that no single political party won more than 50 percent of the seats and thus correctly disregarded Article 6(7) as inapplicable.

"He then properly and correctly exercised his powers under Article 6(3) and appointed Hajiji as the chief minister. Therefore, Hajiji was constitutionally and legitimately sworn in as chief minister in accordance with the law and the democratic mandate of the people of Sabah," Masidi added.

He said Hajiji and all former Bersatu assemblypersons who left the party in December last year are all direct members of GRS.

The Sabah government under Hajiji is currently experiencing instability with Bung having withdrawn BN support, while Hajiji is expected to reshuffle the state cabinet.

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