Umno yet to decide on fate of five Sabah reps who broke ranks, says Ahmad Maslan

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has yet to decide on the fate of five Sabah Barisan Nasional assemblymen who broke ranks with the state party leadership to support Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

“We have not made any decision on this issue,” said Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan on Wednesday (Jan 11).

Asked if the Sabah government was a unity government, Ahmad avoided the question by saying that this matter should be discussed later.

“The Sabah government is unique. We hope that this will return (things) to normal and for the administration to be stable,” he added.

For now, Ahmad said that Umno wanted to focus on its General Assembly 2022 and address issues raised during the four-day meet.

The general assembly, which was initially slated for December, will be held from Wedneday to Saturday (Jan 14).

There have been calls for action to be taken against the five Sabah Barisan representatives, all from Umno, who voiced their support for Hajiji and his leadership.

On Jan 7, Barisan had withdrawn support from the Hajiji-led government, leading to a political impasse.

The five reps are Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat), Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Arshad Bistari (Tempasuk) and Datuk James Ratib (Sugut).

Two of them, Shahelmey and James, have been roped into the new Cabinet.

Shahelmey was named Deputy Chief Minister III and Works Minister on Wednesday, taking over from Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

James was made a full minister and given the Community Development and People’s Wellbeing portfolio.

Bung Moktar had said that Sabah Umno will not recognise the two new appointments involving its assemblymen.