Sabah Umno does not recognise the new state cabinet line-up announced today, said Bung Moktar Radin, who insisted that Chief Minister Hajiji Noor had "bought over" five Umno representatives to support his government.
Speaking to Malaysiakini earlier today, the Sabah Umno chief said the party never gave its blessing to Tanjung Keramat assemblyperson Shahelmey Yahya and James Ratib (Sugut) to join Hajiji’s cabinet.
Bung (above) stressed that the two were not representing Umno and thus Hajiji should not say that Umno is represented in his new cabinet.
"As the chief of Sabah Umno, of course I am disappointed because this new cabinet includes two traitors from Umno, and Sabah Umno does not in any way recognise their appointment to the cabinet because they do not represent Umno.
"So I hope Hajiji will not say that these people are representing Umno in the state government, because they are not," he said.
Earlier today, Hajiji in a cabinet reshuffling move announced his new administration members, which saw Bung, who was a Sabah deputy chief minister, kicked out while Shahelmey was made a deputy chief minister.
It saw three new cabinet members appointed, including two Pakatan Harapan representatives Christina Liew (Api-api) and Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang), and James from Umno.
The cabinet reshuffle was carried out only days after 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.
Call for MACC probe
Bung told Malaysiakini that the five Umno representatives had gone against the party discipline "out of greed for power" and claimed that they were bought over by Hajiji.
He also called for MACC and other relevant agencies to probe the alleged political bribery.
"This new cabinet is actually not legitimate, because five of my members were bought over by Hajiji and this clearly went against party rules. This was because he (Hajiji) had promised them positions as minister, deputy minister and in GLCs.
"I hope MACC and other agencies will investigate this. Because this is clearly rasuah parti (bribery)," he said.
According to Bung, Sabah Umno would also bring Shahelmy, James and the three other Umno representatives who broke rank to Umno disciplinary body.
The state chapter leaves it to the party to decide what action should be taken against the five, but would recommend that they get the boot.
"Because we do not want this to happen again in the future where our party members, representatives who are power crazy, jump and abandon the party.
"I'd rather have a small number of state representatives as long as they are loyal to the cause. The actions of these five showed that they are greedy to get power."
Malaysiakini learnt that the five also did not attend the Sabah Umno leadership meeting with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when the latter went to Kota Kinabalu on Monday to discuss the political turmoil in Sabah. - Mkini
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