Bung: Not topple, we just want to correct state's direction

 

Sabah Umno chairperson Bung Moktar Radin has denied that the withdrawal of support for Chief Minister Hajiji Noor was to topple the state government.

Instead, he said he was merely "correcting" the state's political direction.

"Toppling a government and forming a new one is different. Toppling (a government) is usually done with ill intent but our intention was to rectify the state's political direction, for the rakyat's benefit.

"Toppling is destructive, while we were just ensuring the people of Sabah get the place they deserve in the new administration," he told reporters at the sideline of the Umno general assembly (PAU 2020) at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.

The Sabah political crisis was triggered when Sabah Umno withdrew its support for Hajiji.

The GRS leader, however, managed to keep his position after five Umno state assemblypersons went against the party decision and gave their support to Hajiji, with the help of seven Harapan assemblypersons who tilted towards the chief minister.

Hajiji later announced a cabinet reshuffle, which saw Bung (above) dropped as deputy chief minister and works minister.

Tanjung Keramat assemblyperson Shahelmy Yahya, who is one of the five assemblypersons who sided with Hajiji during the crisis, was promoted to deputy chief minister III.

Hajiji also included two Pakatan Harapan lawmakers, namely Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang), and Christina Liew (Api api) in the cabinet.

Bung later said that Sabah Umno does not recognise the new state cabinet line-up, and insisted that Hajiji had "bought over" five Umno representatives to support his government.

Today, Bung said Umno will decide on the action to be taken against the five representatives soon.

"It will be decided by the party, and we will see what (action) they will face." - Mkini