Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim looks set to have his hands full dealing with the Sabah imbroglio when he returns to Malaysia tomorrow - despite incumbent Chief Minister Hajiji Noor having secured a majority in the state legislature.
One of Hajiji's key rivals, Sabah BN chief Bung Moktar Radin (above), has refused to concede defeat despite acknowledging that Hajiji indeed has a majority.
Instead, Bung appears hopeful that Anwar may act in his favour somehow.
"Of course, he (Hajiji) has 44 (assemblypersons), as he took all my men, he corrupted all my men. But it is okay.
"The ball is still rolling. We are waiting for the prime minister to come tomorrow... They are going to see us and Warisan. Then, we will talk about it," he was quoted as saying by NST.
Anwar is currently on a two-day visit to Indonesia and will be flying back tomorrow evening.
Once he comes back, he is expected to meet with Hajiji, Bung, and BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who claimed to have a "formula" for Sabah that he'd like to discuss with the chief minister and prime minister.
However, it is unclear if Anwar will meet all those involved at once or separately.
Breach of trust
Drama in Sabah began on Thursday when Warisan, which has 19 seats, planned a press conference which was later cancelled, amid talks of a coup against Hajiji.
Then on Friday, Sabah BN - which has 17 seats - withdrew support from the state government, citing a breach of trust whereby the coalition would support Hajiji’s leadership in exchange for positions in the cabinet and government-linked companies.
This came after Hajiji axed Salleh Said Keruak as Qhazanah Sabah chairperson, with further plans to reshuffle the state cabinet.
However, five BN assemblypersons rebelled against Bung and are among the 44 assemblypersons who are supporting Hajiji to stay in office.
Hajiji said with this support, his state government will remain intact.
Bung, however, claimed otherwise.
"There is no government. The (then) government was formed together (between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-BN after the state election in 2020).
"When we (BN-Umno) pulled out, it means there is no chief minister,” he said.
The Sabah legislature has 79 seats - including six appointed positions whose support is counted towards the majority.
BN, GRS, and Warisan are all partners in the federal government and signatories of a memorandum of agreement to support Anwar as prime minister. - Mkini
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