Hajiji still has majority support of Sabah assemblymen to remain as CM, says GRS sec-gen

KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has majority support from the 79-seat Sabah state assembly to remain as the Chief Minister, says Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secretary-general said there have been certain quarters that have claimed to have the support of more than half of the assemblymen to enable another group to form a new state government.

He, however, did not specify the group.

In a statement Wednesday (Jan 4), Masidi said Hajiji, who is also the GRS chairman, has majority backing to continue spearheading the present government.

“These included the seven Pakatan Harapan assemblymen.

“We are prepared to prove the validity of the support to the appropriate party when and if needed.

“The atmosphere and political situation in Sabah remain stable and safe for matters of trade and investment,” added the State Local Government and Housing Minister.

Masidi’s remarks followed that of a previous statement by constitutional lawyer Datuk Fuad Tengku Ahmad who had said the decision of the 15 Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) assemblymen to leave and become direct members of GRS does not affect the position of Hajiji as Chief Minister.

Fuad had said this was because the GRS-Barisan Nasional coalition in Sabah remained intact.

This was due to the support of the 46 reps, in addition to the confidence and supply commitment of the seven Pakatan assemblymen, to back Hajiji as Chief Minister.

It is also understood that Parti Kesejahteraan Demoktratik Malaysia (KDM), with three assemblymen and one independent, stands in firm support of the GRS-BN government, he said.

“Based on these numbers, Hajiji clearly has the support of 57 assemblymen - a majority in the 79-member state assembly and thus continues to enjoy the confidence of the assembly in accordance with Article 6(3) of the Sabah Constitution,” said Fuad.

Previously, Parti Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking had questioned whether Hajiji’s position as the Chief Minister was tenable after Sabah Bersatu assemblymen quit the party last December.

Leiking had doubted whether Hajiji still enjoyed the majority support in the Sabah state assembly, adding the latter should test this support in accordance with the state constitution.

There were also columns in national online portals questioning Hajiji’s position at the turn of the new year.

Opposition Warisan has a total of 19 seats.