DESPITE the charges of corruption surrounding him, Musa Aman will see strong support from Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) members this afternoon at the Kota Kinabalu High Court, which will today decide who is the rightful chief minister of Sabah.
Musa had filed an originating summons against Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Juhar Mahiruddin and Mohd Shafie Apdal seeking a declaration that he is the rightful Sabah chief minister according to the state constitution.
Just two days ago, Musa, who is the Sibuga assemblyman, was charged with 35 counts of corruption involving RM243 million in relation to timber concessions in Sabah between 2004 and 2008.
State Umno leaders believe the criminal charges, coming two days before today’s court decision, were to tarnish Musa’s name and influence the the Kota Kinabalu High Court.
More than 1,000 GBS supporters have vowed to to turn up this afternoon at the court complex.
GBS is a coalition of four opposition parties – Parti Bersatu Sabah, Sabah Umno, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku.
Sabah Umno Youth chief Abdul Ajis Julkarnain said Musa’s graft charges were trumped up by the government which thought it could demoralise GBS and the supporters.
“It is going to backfire,” Ajis told The Malaysian Insight.
“They think by implying that the previous government and Musa were corrupt, the people would believe them.
“The people are already fed up with this kind of games.”
Ajis said the coalition was prepared for today’s outing, including for food and refreshments for those who turn up in court.
“It is a GBS programme and we are working together to make sure everyone will turn up in support of our leader.
“On the absence of GBS members during the oral submission on Octobrt 25, Ajis said the party had discouraged members from showing up in force for fear of provocation from Parti Warisan Sabah.
Sabah Wanita Umno chief Jainab Ahmad Ayid said she had invited hundreds of Umno members to turn up in court today.
“Make sure everyone has lunch first as we don’t know how long the judge will take to come to a decision.
“There will be a place prepared for Umno and GBS supporters,” her message read.
Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Jeffrey Kitingan said the party was also sending members to court today, saying the graft charges against Musa was selective persecution.
“You know Malaysia can practice double standards. This is done to destabilise the situation. They want to demoralise the supporters and GBS leaders by creating controversy,” he said.
Kittingan said if things go against Warisan today, its members will create a situation.
“And we don’t want that to happen. Their anticipation and expectations are high and they have tuned themselves to expect only one decision, and that is to win.
“It will only take a small incident to create chaos and it will be easy for the supporters to get out of control.”
Parti Bersatu Sabah, Sabah Umno and Solidariti leaders would gather at a location in Kota Kinabalu and be prepared for any eventuality, he said.
“We are also prepared to take over the government right away.”
Meanwhile, Warisan Information chief Honorsius Bosuin said Warisan supporters were expected at the court complex today.
Police are expected to beef up security at the court complex and designate separate areas for the two opposing groups of Warisan and GBS supporters .
Musa is represented by Tengku Fuad Ahmad and S. Vanugopal while Juhar and Shafie’s counsel are Zaleha Rose Pandin and Douglas Lind, respectively.
During oral submission, Tengku Fuad argued that according to Article 10 (4) of the Sabah constitution, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri had no right to ask Musa to resign or assume that he has resigned.
He said Juhar also had no right under Article 6 (3) to allow Shafie to be sworn in as the new chief minister after Musa had taken his oath of office.
Musa was sworn in as chief minister on May 10 and Shafie, on May 12.
Douglas, in his submission, had said that Musa no longer had the majority after six BN assemblymen defected to Warisan.
-https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.