PUTATAN: Putatan MP and Tanjung Keramat Assemblyman, Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, confirmed his intention to defend the Tanjung Keramat seat in the upcoming State election.
However, he did not mention if he will still be contesting under Umno.
“For the State election, we are ready to do the work to get close to the rakyat and community to explain the initiatives done by the current government and how they have impacted the people.
“InsyaAllah, I will defend my seat in Tanjung Keramat,” he said.
Shehelmey said he is still a member of Umno, but his membership was suspended for six years after he pledged support for Sabah Chief Minister cum Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in January 2023, which was against the directive of the Sabah Umno leadership.
Despite his suspension, Shahelmey continues to serve as the Deputy Chief Minister III and State Minister of Works in Sabah under GRS.
If Shahelmey is to contest under GRS, he will have to quit Umno which will cause him to be removed from his parliamentary seat, Putatan, which he won during the 15th General Election in 2022, due to the Federal anti-hopping law.
