Sabah Umno shuts door on Shahelmey contesting under its banner

 

Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin, in response to a statement by Shahelmey Yahya, said the state party had a firm stand on loyalty.

PETALING JAYA: 

Sabah Umno has effectively shut the door on Shahelmey Yahya’s chances to contest in the impending state election, saying the party did not want an unfaithful leader.

Shahelmey was suspended for six years by Umno in March 2023 after he refused to toe the party line during an attempt to oust Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor.

Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said in a statement today the state party is firm about not selecting or supporting as election candidates members who had betrayed the party.

“Loyalty and sincerity is paramount in Umno’s struggle and those who failed to abide by it would have no place in the party to contest in elections,” he said in response to a statement by Shahelmey that he wanted to check on the status of his membership in view of the Sabah election.

Shahelmey was among the five who backed Hajiji. The other four are James Ratib (Sugut), Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk) and Hamild Awang (Balung).

Shahelmey, who was later appointed as a deputy chief minister, did not quit Umno so as not to breach the federal anti-hopping law, but the other four assemblymen defected to Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.

The term of the current Sabah government expires in October. - FMT