Kota Kinabalu: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor claims he has obtained the support of 44 Sabah State assemblymen from GRS, Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN). He said that with the support, the Sabah State Government remained intact and he was still the Chief Minister.
“This means that the existing (State) government, which I lead, is still intact and strong and will continue to govern the State of Sabah,” he told reporters, Sunday.
Earlier, he attended an hour-long meeting with 44 Sabah assemblymen at the Official Residence in Sri Gaya.
Also present were Sabah PH chairman Datuk Christina Liew, United Progressive Kinabalu Organization (Upko) Vice President and Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives Ewon Benedick, Sabah Community Development and People’s Welfare Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (BN) and Sabah PAS Secretary Aliakbar Gulasan.
Of the 44 assemblymen, 29 are believed to be from GRS, PH (7), BN (5), PAS (1), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (1) and an Independent.
According to Hajiji, he had submitted the Statutory Declarations of all the assemblymen who supported him to Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at Istana Seri Kinabalu on Saturday.
Commenting on the allegation that his position as Chief Minister was not in accordance with the Sabah State Constitution, Hajiji said: “With regard to the (State) constitution, whoever is not satisfied, they (they) can take it to court.”
On the reshuffling of the State Cabinet, he said it would be decided soon.
Meanwhile, Shahelmy said his decision to support the State Government and Hajiji as Chief Minister at this point in time was to ensure Sabah’s development could continue effectively for the sake of the people.
“The five of us (BN assemblymen) have retained our support. This is not the time for us to change governments or play politics, the people need us,” he said.
