PETALING JAYA: A Sabah Umno assemblyman has dismissed reports that the five party members who refused to participate in a failed coup attempt last week will form a new party in support of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and chief minister Hajiji Noor.
Earlier today, it was reported that Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat), Jasni Daya (Pantai Dalit), James Ratib (Sugut), Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), and Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk) had announced they would form a new party if they are shown the door by Sabah Umno for not pulling support for Hajiji.
“I strongly deny such reports. (We) have never issued any statements about starting a new party,” Shahelmey said in a statement.
“That statement was published without our (the five Umno assemblymen’s) knowledge, and it is also malicious.
“As we have stressed before, we five Umno assemblymen have taken a stand not to support any move to overthrow the existing government, and we are ready to face any action from the party.”
On Friday, Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno retracted their support for Hajiji. The announcement followed reports of an attempted coup to oust him as chief minister.
It was previously speculated that Sabah Umno and Warisan were looking to work together to form the state government.
Yesterday, Hajiji said he has the backing of 44 out of the 79 assemblymen and had submitted their statutory declarations (SDs) to the governor.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are set to visit Kota Kinabalu tonight in a bid to ease the ongoing political turmoil in Sabah.
Before the political turmoil, Hajiji was backed by 53 assemblymen – 29 from GRS, 17 from BN and seven from Pakatan Harapan. Besides the 73 elected assemblymen, six were appointed by the ruling party. - FMT
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