Bung: We’ll not recognise appointment of two Umno reps in Cabinet

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno will not recognise the appointment of two assemblymen in the state Cabinet, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (pic).

The Sabah Umno chief said Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and Datuk James Ratib do not represent the party.

“The appointment of the new state Cabinet involved two Sabah Umno reps. They do not represent the party and we will not recognise their appointments,” said Bung in a statement.

He added that Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor could not say that the duo are representing Umno in the Cabinet.

Bung accused Hajiji, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman, of undermining Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“It seems the Chief Minister undermined the PM’s views to create a unity government in Sabah,” he said.

Bung, who is both Kinabatangan MP and Lamag assemblyman, pointed out that Barisan was the main contributor to the formation of Anwar’s unity government at Federal level.

He said the decision by Shahelmey and Ratib to back Hajiji’s GRS government had also undermined Umno.

Bung said the duo acted for their own self-interests without considering the party’s future.

At the Istana Seri Kinabalu yesterday, Shahelmey was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister and state Works Minister, replacing Bung Moktar.

Ratib, who was previously an assistant minister, is now the Community Development and People’s Well-being Minister, a portfolio previously held by Shahelmey. The duo were among the five Sabah Umno assemblymen who went against Bung’s decision to pull out from the previous GRS-Barisan coalition government.

Bung said Sabah Umno would refer the matter to the party’s disciplinary board at national level.

“We will discuss the next course of action to be taken with party president (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi),” he said.

Meanwhile, Bung said he hoped Hajiji would act fairly towards Cabinet members and not interfere in the affairs of their respective ministries.

He also said Sabah Umno was ready to shoulder the responsibility of being in the Opposition and to play its role effectively.