Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has been accused of reneging on a deal to form a unity government in the state, which was backed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
In a statement, Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal said the deal was struck during a meeting involving his party, Umno, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia (KDM) and Anwar on Jan 9.
Shafie (above) also said a special committee was immediately formed to discuss the formation of the government.
"However, new Sabah cabinet members were sworn in. This government does not reflect a unity government.
"Hajiji had cast aside the prime minister's suggestion and reneged on the agreement," he claimed.
Shafie said that a unity government, modelled after the federal government, would have ensured political stability and resolved political problems in the state.
This account of Anwar's involvement in the recent political ripples in Sabah contradicted that of Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Jeffrey Kitingan yesterday.
Kitingan told the press yesterday that Anwar called Hajiji on Tuesday night, before the swearing-in of three new Sabah cabinet ministers, expressing satisfaction with the outcome.
Anwar had arrived at Kota Kinabalu on Monday night and was chauffeured to the Magellan Sutera Resort for a meeting with Shafie, Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin and KDM's Peter Anthony.
After the meeting concluded, he and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi then proceeded to the chief minister's official residence to meet Hajiji.
Although Anwar appeared committed to a "unity government", two Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons were brought into Hajiji's cabinet, while Bung and 11 other BN lawmakers joined Warisan on the opposition bench when the state legislative assembly was convened on Jan 10.
Sabah's latest bout of political instability began last Friday when Sabah BN assemblypersons withdrew support for Hajiji to continue as chief minister.
However, five out of 17 Sabah BN assemblypersons refused to toe the party line and remained loyal to Hajiji. Seven Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons also crossed the floor to back Hajiji. - Mkini
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