Situation calm in Sabah, no change in state government, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: The political situation in Sabah is calm and there will be no change in the state government, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said he was assured of the situation in Sabah after contacting the Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor; Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as well as Deputy Chief Minister and Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

Anwar said the matter had also been discussed with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is Umno president, and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.

"Sabah is calm at the moment. I don't think there will be any development (on a change in state government), but I was informed that there are several issues and I have asked the Chief Minister to discuss the matters wisely with our friends in Sabah," he said in a voice message shared with the media through WhatsApp on Friday (Jan 6).

There had been speculation that a certain party had obtained majority support of the Sabah state assembly to form a new state government.

The Sabah State Assembly has 79 seats, comprising 73 elected assemblymen and six appointed assemblymen.

At present, GRS holds 59 seats, Barisan Nasional (17), Pakatan Harapan (seven), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (three) and one each from Parti Bangsa Malaysia, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and Independent.

Meanwhile, on the rumours of a purported "London Move" to topple the unity government, Anwar jokingly said: "London Move is so far away (and expensive), it should be cheaper, it should be 'Kajang Move'."

It had been speculated that there was a plot to topple Anwar's unity government involving several political leaders, including from Umno and the Opposition, who had allegedly held a secret meeting in London recently. – Bernama