Seating arrangements for special assembly sitting temporary - Sabah speaker

The seating arrangement change involving several Sabah assemblypersons at the special state assembly sitting today is only temporary.

Sabah Speaker Kadzim M Yahya said the arrangements were made so that the assembly would not seem “empty” as there were assemblypersons who were not present at the special sitting.

The change involved several assemblypersons including Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons who are now in the government block as backbenchers.

"The arrangements will depend on whether there is a new cabinet, if they (assemblypersons) are not included in the cabinet, if any appointments are cancelled, they will be moved to the left,” he told reporters after the special sitting.

The seating re-arrangement had raised questions among the media, especially the position of Deputy Chief Minister Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Lamag), who is now seated in the opposition bloc, in the same row with opposition leader Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang).

Bung was seated next to Chief Minister Hajiji Noor in the previous assembly sitting, but that seat is now occupied by the other deputy chief minister - Jeffrey Kitingan.

Bung and Shafie had earlier informed several assemblypersons from their parties that they would not be attending the sitting due to their respective reasons.

On the absence of Umno/BN and Warisan assemblypersons, Kadzim said he did not receive any leave applications from them, except for Salleh Keruak (BN-Usukan).

He said that he was always open to providing exemptions to every assemblyperson who requested leave and they could submit their applications before the special sitting began.

The special sitting was attended by 44 assemblypersons, including Hajiji.

- Bernama