Sabah Harapan backs CM over two-term limit move

 

Sabah's Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons have lauded Chief Minister Hajiji Noor over the state cabinet's decision to limit the chief minister's position to two terms.

In a courtesy call, leaders from PKR, DAP and Warisan met with the chief minister to express bipartisan support for the move.

"During a previous courtesy visit to Hajiji (above, left) at the end of last year, the proposal to limit the appointment of chief minister to only two terms was among the Sabah reform agendas that we have submitted to him.

"Now the house is informed that the Sabah state cabinet has in principle agreed on the proposal to limit the term of chief minister to two terms only.

"The amendment of the state constitution will be tabled in the next state assembly session if it gets support from the assemblypersons," said Sabah PKR chief Christina Liew in a statement.

Sabah PKR chief Christina Liew

Liew, who is Api-Api assemblyperson and Tawau MP, was accompanied by Sabah DAP chair and Tanjung Papat assemblyperson Frankie Poon, Kadamaian representative Ewon Benedick and Likas assemblyperson Tan Lee Fatt.

The announcement was made in the state assembly when Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Abidin Madingkir answered an oral question from Ewon.

Ex-CM previously dismissed notion

The proposal was made as early as 2011 during the administration of Musa Aman, who served as chief minister from March 2003 to May 2018, but Musa scoffed at the notion at the time.

Ewon said he had asked the question to follow up on the Sabah reform agenda proposals that were submitted by Sabah Harapan to Hajiji.

Hajiji is the only chief of government to represent Bersatu, which has lost its hold on Kedah, Perak and Johor since 2020's Sheraton Move.

Last week, Warisan president Shafie Apdal caused a stir when he said his party is open to undertaking smart cooperation with any political party or coalition, including Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and BN in the 15th general election. - Mkini