Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal has denied seeking any federal posts amidst ongoing negotiations between opposition parties over who will be their candidates for prime minister and deputy.
The Warisan president (above) said this when asked of speculation that he would be named a possible deputy prime minister candidate.
“There are a lot of suggestions now. Even in the current government, there are considerations for Sabahans and Sarawakians.
“There are a lot of suggestions now. Even in the current government, there are considerations for Sabahans and Sarawakians.
“But I’m not running for any kind of post. What’s important to me is running the state, helping the people and developing our economy,” he was quoted saying by The Malay Mail.
Last Saturday, the daily reported sources as saying that Shafie one of the names put forth as deputy premier along with PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad returning to the top post for the third time.
“Pakatan Harapan Plus” - comprising Harapan, its ally Warisan and Mahathir’s faction of Bersatu- is attempting to amass the necessary numbers to reclaim Putrajaya from the Perikatan Nasional government.
However, they are reportedly unable to decide on their prime minister and deputy prime minister candidates.
Shafie said having a federal cabinet post need not be a guarantee “anything would be handed to you” adding there were also other East Malaysians who were qualified for the number two spot.
“It’s up to them (who will be deputy prime minister). For me, the focus is on running the state right now and uniting Sabahans,” he said.
DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke yesterday told Malaysiakini that said during negotiations, Harapan and its allies had explored two combinations for the top two positions – Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister and Mukhriz Mahathir as deputy or Mahathir as prime minister and Anwar his deputy. He claimed Shafie was never in the running.
The Anwar-Mukhriz combination was unsuccessful and the coalition is now waiting for PKR to decide whether the coalition will pursue the Mahathir-Anwar combination.
PKR is slated to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, Shafie was quoted by portal Free Malaysia Today as dismissing the possibility of snap elections in the state.
He said the state did not have a hung assembly and Warisan still possessed a majority in the number of representatives to govern Sabah.
“Why should I (call for snap polls)? [...] under the state constitution, it’s quite clear we (Warisan) have another two-and-a-half years to govern the state.
“Let me focus on running the state and not on talk of elections, crossovers or buying here and there,” he reportedly said. - Mkini
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