Shafie: ‘Partyless’ Hajiji to blame for Sabah’s political impasse

Warisan would leave it to Sabah Governor Juhar Mahiruddin to decide on the status of its chief minister and the state government, said its president Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Nonetheless, he laid the blame for the current political impasse firmly at the feet of Hajiji Noor, due to his retention as chief minister after the 15th general election (GE15) despite Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) no longer being part of the federal government

"All quarters should abide by the law, especially the Sabah state constitution, in determining the chief minister and state government.

"Hajiji is not a party leader and has no party. He cannot be elected without a party. For the first time in our history, we are being led by a non-leader of a party,” said Shafie (above), according to a report by the Malay Mail.

“Nobody knows whether Hajiji will now command the confidence of the majority (state assemblypersons).

“The majority of these members have the right to choose another elected member to be the chief minister by presenting their choice to the Sabah governor at any time,” he added.

Shafie claimed that there should be strict adherence to the law and Federal Constitution, which states the leader of a political party who commands the majority of the House should hold the chief minister’s post.

However, this point was disputed earlier today by GRS secretary-general Masidi Manjun, who cited a ruling by High Court Judge Yew Jen Kie.

The judge had stated that Article 6(7) of the Sabah Constitution will not apply unless a political party manages to win more than 50 percent of the seats following a state election.

"In 2020 (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 governor (Juhar) 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 added that Hajiji and all former Bersatu assemblypersons who left Bersatu in December 2022 are all direct members of GRS.

The Sabah government under Hajiji is currently experiencing instability with Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin having withdrawn BN’s support followed by Peter Anthony from Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), while Hajiji is expected to reshuffle the state cabinet.

It should be noted that Bung himself admitted that not all Umno/BN assemblypersons agreed with the move to withdraw support for Hajiji.

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