Umno in a quandary over fate of five assemblymen

KOTA KINABALU: Umno is in a dilemma over what to do about its five assemblymen who sided with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in the state’s recent political crisis, says an analyst.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah senior lecturer Dr Romzi Ationg, however, said the party has no choice but to give the five the boot or risk losing the confidence of other members, even if sacking them would reduce the number of Sabah Barisan Nasional-Umno assemblymen in the state assembly as well as weaken the party in the process.

Sabah Barisan has 18 assemblymen, including two nominated representatives, in the 79-member state assembly.

“Followers of these assemblymen may also be unhappy with such a decision but it is the best decision. There will be negative consequences but this will only be temporary.

“Umno must show its decisiveness so that its members will not lose faith in the party,” Romzi said, adding that it would also show the party’s resolve to support the anti-hopping law.

The five who threw their support behind Hajiji in the political turmoil are Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat), Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk) and Datuk James Ratib (Sugut).

Shahelmey is also Putatan MP, a seat he won in the 15th General Election last November.

The membership of the five is now in question after Umno passed two amendments to its constitution which could see members being expelled if they go against the party’s stand.

Sabah Universiti Teknologi Mara’s Dr Firdausi Suffian said Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s remarks during the recently concluded annual general assembly are another indication that the five could lose their membership.

In his policy speech last week, Ahmad Zahid said that the central leadership would stand by Sabah Umno despite the outcome of the political crisis in the state.

Firdausi, however, acknowledged the quandary Umno is in, saying that it would not bode well for the party should the five remain members.

“It might have to sack them because they left Umno with no choice. If it doesn’t sack them, it will be against the party’s spirit and stand,” he said, adding this would then add pressure on the party after its poor performance in GE15.

It was reported on Jan 9 that the five had said that they were willing to be sacked.

Their backing enabled Hajiji, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman, to stay on as Chief Minister and continue spearheading the GRS-led state government.

This was after Sabah Barisan chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin announced the move to pull out from the GRS government on Jan 6.On Monday, Shahelmey stressed that he was ready to face the consequences of breaking ranks with the party, saying that he would leave his fate to Umno.

Ratib on the same day expressed a similar stand.

Shahelmey and Ratib have since been promoted in the state Cabinet, with the former named Deputy Chief Minister III and Works Minister, taking over from Bung Mokhtar, while the latter was appointed the State Community Development and People’s Well-being Minister.

On the sidelines of the Umno general assembly, Bung Moktar had said the fates of the five would be decided soon.

However, he added they had yet to be referred to the Umno disciplinary board as certain processes needed to be completed first.