KOTA KINABALU— Tan Sri Musa Aman missed a swearing-in ceremony arranged specifically for him today, citing “unforeseen circumstances.”
Deputy Sabah Speaker Datuk Ahmad Abdul Rahman told reporters that the former chief minister had informed the assembly he would show up at 2.30pm today.
“Yes, he was supposed to be sworn-in today, but due to unforeseen circumstances… for reasons we do not know… he has failed to show up,” he said.
Ahmad said his office was informed last week, even before Musa returned to the country on Tuesday, that he would show up to take his lawmaker’s oath today.
The Sungai Sibuga representative must do so before September 11 or be disqualified.
Musa was arrested yesterday but police have since released him after failing to secure a remand order to detain him further. He is believed to still be in a private hospital in the Klang Valley.
Ahmad said they were informed by phone today that he would not attend and have not set a replacement date.
“They will email us again soon. Give him the chance to do it. No need to be hasty. He still has till September 11 to be sworn in,” he said.
Ahmad added that the Speaker’s office was impartial and would do its best to facilitate the Sungai Sibuga assemblyman’s swearing-in.
Musa reportedly left for London on May 16, after political nemesis Shafie wrested the state government from him and was sworn in as chief minister on May 12.
Since then, Musa was sought by the police over alleged criminal intimidation of Sabah’s Yang Di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, over the swearing-in of the chief minister on May 10.
He is also being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over allegations of buying over assemblymen.
Musa has an ongoing lawsuit against Shafie and Juhar to declare himself the rightful chief minister.
Shafie loses bid to strike out Musa’s suit over CM post
KOTA KINABALU – The High Court here has rejected an application by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to strike out his predecessor’s suit to be declared the rightful chief minister.
High Court judge Datuk Yew Jen Kie ruled that the case should be heard and ordered a full hearing for Tan Sri Musa Aman’s claim as the rightful chief minister.
“Upon perusal of the affidavits and submission of the parties, I am satisfied that the plaintiff has raised question of law which requires full consideration which render the OS unsuitable to be struck out summarily.
“As such, I dismissed the striking out application with cost in the cause,” she said in her written judgement.
The OS refers to the originating summons from former chief minister Musa who is seeking to declare Shafie’s swearing-in as chief minister unlawful.
The case today was brought forward from September 3 and heard via teleconference.
Musa’s lawyer Tengku Fuad Ahmad said that the case will now go on as a full hearing via submissions and verbal argument.
Speaking to reporters at the courthouse, Shafie’s lawyer Datuk Douglas Lind said that the case “should be given full consideration”.
He also said that the judge has given the plaintiff, Musa, until September 14 to file a submission, followed by September 28 for a reply from Shafie.
“They will reply to our submission on October 5 and the decision is to be made on October 26. So we will only know the outcome then,” said Lind.
On July 9, Yew had set September 3 to deliver her decision on the application by Shafie to strike out a lawsuit by Musa challenging Shafie’s appointment as CM.
Shafie filed the application on June 5 to strike out the suit on the grounds that Musa had no basis to challenge his (Shafie’s) appointment on May 12 as chief minister.
The following day, Musa filed a fresh suit against the Sabah Yang Di-Pertua Negeri and Shafie, in place of the suit filed on May 17, seeking a declaration that he (Musa) was the rightful chief minister of Sabah.
Musa, who had been missing from the country since May 16, returned on Tuesday via private jet and has been receiving medical treatment at a private hospital ever since.
He was arrested by police yesterday to give his statement on criminal intimidation allegations against the Sabah Yang Di-Pertua Negeri on the night of his swearing-in on May 10.
– Malay Mail
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