Sabah CM Musa stays away from row between BN allies

A power tussle between two Barisan Nasional allies in the hot-bed constituency of Kudat will be allowed to smoulder until it cools off.

The Sabah government has indicated it will not intervene for the moment in the BN- controlled constituency that has been wracked by in-fighting between Sabah Umno and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) officials.

At the centre of the trouble is an Umno-aligned district chief who allegedly usurped the powers of a BN assemblyman by sacking and making civic appointments with consent of his political masters.

However, the Sabah Ministry of Local Government and Housing has no plan to sack or change the current Kudat district chief, Harun Bidin for now, its minister Hajiji Haji Noor said on Tuesday.

He was responding to a request from Tanjung Kapor Assemblyman Teo Chee Kang to sack the district chief for insubordination by making appointments and dismissing others without consulting the assemblyman.

"For the time being, I do not see the need for any change," said Hajiji who is in charge of the Native Affairs Office which appoints Sabah community leaders including Native Chiefs and the Chinese Kapitan.

Teo, who is also the LDP secretary-general and the BN chief in Tanjung Kapor, had said over the weekend that he wanted “the head of the district chief” as he could not tolerate Harun’s acts of insubordination. Harun was allegedly ignoring Teo’s authority.
Making his feeling known during the annual general meeting of his Tanjung Kapur division in Kudat recently that he said that he would not stop until he got what he wanted (the removal of Harun).

Teo said he had brought up the matter of the recent sacking of eight community leaders and appointment of another three to fill up vacancies, due to demise of old leaders, to Hajiji's attention on July 5. Hajiji had then reversed Harun’s decision.

Four of the eight community leaders were reinstated while the other four are being reassessed due to health problems, old age and alleged disciplinary problems.

"In the meeting, the minister confirmed that the quota for Kapitan Cina is still intact, the quota for one deceased Kapitan Cina was not converted to a Wakil Ketua Anak Negeri," said Teo.

'Use internal channel'

He said that given what had occurred, it was impossible for him to work with the current district chief in his constituency.

"I have therefore written to Hajiji seeking for his removal. I wish to reiterate that unless I get what I want, I will not stop."

Teo said he had also written to the Chief Minister Musa Aman seeking to reinstate the other four community leaders, and to revoke appointments which were made without his knowledge as well as to remove the district chief.

He said that he is also seeking a meeting with Musa to sort out the matter as it has been the BN practice to get the consent of the respective assemblyman before making appointments of community leaders, including district chiefs, unless the assemblyman was in the opposition.

He warned that what had happened in Tanjong Kapor may sooner or later happen in other constituencies if such a mistake is not dealt with firmly and immediately.

Hajiji however advised Teo to cool down and not to air the government's and his grievances in the media, saying that there are plenty of avenues under the BN.

"My office door is always open. In fact, I met Teo and LDP deputy president Chin Su Phin recently on the matter.

"For Teo's information, my recent decision in reinstating the four Kudat community leaders plus appointing one new Chinese Kapitan from LDP had the blessings of Chief Minister Musa,” said Hajiji.

courtesy of FMT