Possibility emerges of Bung becoming next Sabah CM

KOTA KINABALU: A move to push for Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin to be the next chief minister has emerged after an alleged move to oust Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was derailed.

As political undercurrents in the state administration continue, it is learned that discussions between Sabah Barisan and Parti Warisan led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal are now focussing on pushing for Bung to be chief minister.

Sources said the move will keep all 17 Barisan assemblymen within the party as there is speculation that three to five of them are rebelling against the idea to support Shafie.

Sources said this would place Barisan-Warisan in a better position to obtain a 40-seat majority in the 79-member house.

They were also confident of gaining the support of splinter parties after Pakatan Harapan allegedly pulled back from a widely-speculated move by Barisan and Warisan to topple Hajiji.

However, Hajiji is also said to have strengthened his position by getting the support of seven Pakatan Harapan assemblymen as well as at least three assemblymen on top of the existing support from 29 GRS assemblymen.

Sources claim that both GRS and Barisan-Warisan are speaking to assemblymen to get their support.

Officially, Bung has not said anything about the withdrawing Sabah Barisan's support for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government that came into power after the Sept 2020 state polls.

Parti Warisan had scheduled a 4pm press conference at a hotel here on Thursday (Jan 5) amid swirling speculation that they had the numbers to take over the state government.

In the event Barisan withdraws support for the ruling government, GRS will lose majority support and would need at least 11 assemblymen to maintain a majority.

Similarly, Barisan and Warisan cumulatively have 36 seats and will need another four assemblymen to achieve a 40-seat majority.