V.K.Liew (left) and Musa.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional and its chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman should accept their defeat in GE14 and instead play their role as an effective opposition to the Parti Warisan Sabah-led state government.
Warisan permanent chairman Datuk V.K.Liew said that Musa and Barisan should swallow the “bitter pill” of defeat instead of focusing on the May 12 swearing-in of Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as Chief Minister.
“They are duly elected by the people and they have the responsibilities to carry out their duties as the opposition party to provide check and balance of the present government,” he said Thursday.
Shafie and his cabinet’s swearing-in was legitimate and in accordance with the state constitution, he added.
The May 10 appointment by Musa Aman had also automatically ceased the moment the new Chief Minister took his oath of office, said Liew, who is Batu Sapi MP.
“It is an undeniable fact that Shafie's new government with Upko, PKR and DAP, has more than the required margin to form the state government,” he said, adding that Warisan and its partners hold 37 of the 60 assembly seats.
Liew claimed that at the time of the swearing-in of Musa on May 10, he did not command the majority of the state assemblymen.
He said it was understandable that Barisan felt it was “high and mighty” but realised that voter sentiment for change had hit Sabah shores and the peninsula.
“The feeling of shock and disbelief must still be lingering not only on the minds of these Barisan leaders but also their supporters,” he said, urging Barisan to start working as an opposition.
Musa, who has kept a low profile since losing office, is contemplating challenging the appointment of Shafie as he maintains that his removal was not in accordance to the constitution and that he was still the legitimate Chief Minister.
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