I’ve been expecting this, says Shahelmey over news of Umno suspension

KOTA KINABALU: Putatan MP Datuk Shahelmey Yahya is not surprised by the suspension of his Umno membership but says he has not received any official word on the matter from the party.

The Sabah Deputy Chief Minister added that he had been busy with work and had no time to check the news or messages coming in.

ALSO READ: Shahelmey’s Umno membership suspended for six years

"But I’ve been expecting this," said Shahelmey, who is also Tanjung Keramat assemblyman, when contacted on Saturday (March 18).

At the same time, he questioned Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin for making the statement over the suspension despite no official statement being released by the party’s supreme council.

He added Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Jafry Ariffin had also said the decision was not yet official and that it was only a recommendation from the Umno disciplinary committee.

"But I accept it with an open heart. And I hope the statement made by Bung Moktar would be considered (the suspension) as official," he said.

Asked on his next move, Shahelmey briefly said: "On that one, I will inform you all later about it."

ALSO READ: Let's wait and see', says renegade Umno rep Shahelmey after facing party discipline board for backing Hajiji

Bung Moktar told reporters earlier in Sandakan on Saturday that Shahelmey’s Umno membership had been suspended for six years.

The Kinabatangan MP said this suspension came after Shahelmey’s refusal to support the state Umno’s decision to withdraw support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in January this year.

Shahelmey was among four Sabah Umno assemblymen issued a show cause letter earlier for reneging on the party’s decision in the political crisis. He had answered to the Umno disciplinary committee on the matter.

The three others were Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit) and Datuk Hamid Awang (Balung) but they had since left to join Hajiji’s Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat).

On March 2, Shahelmey said that he was leaving it to the Umno supreme council to decide on his position in Umno.