Umno yet to decide on five Sabah reps who broke ranks to back Hajiji, says sec-gen

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 — Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the party has yet to reach a decision on whether or not to take action against its five Sabah assemblymen who went against their state chief to support Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as chief minister in the recent leadership crisis.

He also declined to comment on the latest Sabah Cabinet reshuffle that saw the party’s top three state leaders dropped from key positions while their Umno colleagues were promoted.

“We have not made any decision,” Ahmad replied to reporters when asked if the five Umno dissenters would face any disciplinary action.

He was then asked about Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin’s removal from the state Cabinet line-up, alongside Datuk Yakubah Khan and Datuk Jafry Arifin who are the party’s state deputy chairman and secretary respectively.

“I wish them the best of luck in their service... we hope stability returns.

“We will comment later,” he said, sidestepping the thorny topic ahead of the Umno general assembly that will take place at the World Trade Centre here this week.

The Sabah coalition government led by Hajiji was at risk of collapsing earlier this month when Warisan president Datuk Shafie Apdal sought a takeover, claiming to have the majority support of assemblymen.

But then five out of 17 Sabah Umno representatives voiced their support for Hajiji and called for Bung’s resignation as Sabah Umno chief instead, enabling the Gabugan Rakyat Sabah chairman to retain power.

Earlier today, Hajiji reshuffled his state Cabinet, appointing Tanjung Keramat assemblyman Datuk Shahelmey Yahya from Umno as the new deputy chief minister III and works minister, replacing Bung.

Shahelmey’s previous post as state community development and people's welfare minister given to another Umno man Datuk James Ratib who is Sugut assemblyman.

Both Shahelmey and James are part of the five dissidents who refused to support Sabah Umno’s move to withdraw support from the state government and said were ready to face action including dismissal from the party.

The other three are Datuk Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit) and Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk).

Two Pakatan Harapan assemblymen — Datuk Christina Liew and Ginger Phoong — were also sworn in as part of the new Sabah Cabinet line-up this morning.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had flown into Kota Kinabalu last Monday night after wrapping up an official visit to Indonesia amid the state leadership tussle, urging Sabah leaders to make peace and form a unity government for the local residents’ sake.

The unity government call was echoed by Anwar’s deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also head of the national level Umno and Barisan Nasional.