Treat political crisis as a lesson, says Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: The political crisis in Sabah, which has spiralled into an unprecedented snap election, should serve as a lesson to other states in the country, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).

The Umno president said the rakyat must be prioritised to ensure such a crisis did not happen, adding that the people must be given priority in any form of resolution.

He said the political crisis in Sabah would now be resolved through an election as the request of Sabah Umno to form a new government was rejected upon advice by Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin yesterday.

“The fact remains that the dissolution of the Sabah state assembly is to return the power to the people to decide on a new mandate.

“Nevertheless, what happened in Sabah ought to be a lesson to other states, ” he told reporters at a press conference at the KL Court Complex yesterday.

Meanwhile, Zahid said he was not too worried about campaigning in the Sabah state elections despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the Health Ministry and the Election Commission had their own standard operating procedure (SOP) which could be implemented during an election.

“We went through the Tasik Chini by-election and it was successful because the SOP was fully adhered to, ” he added.

In a statement, Pakatan Harapan called on the public to support Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his allied parties in the coming state elections.

“We oppose the undemocratic and immoral attempt to overthrow the state government by buying over representatives and encouraging opportunistic defection, ” it said.

Pakatan also expressed disappointment in Perikatan National, which it said was encouraging shifts in allegiance.

It said it supported the dissolution of the Sabah state assembly in order to return the power to the people.

“We have to restore the mandate of the people, where the people will determine who will govern the state, instead of through money politics, ” it added.