KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said he remains an Umno member despite an unofficial statement claiming that he has been suspended from the party for six years.
Shahelymey, who is Barisan Nasional Putatan MP and Tanjung Keramat assemblyman, said he has yet to receive an official letter of suspension after the party initiated disciplinary action against him last month.
Earlier this month, Sabah Umno chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said Shahelmey had been suspended for six years for his action to break away from the party's stand on withdrawing support from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah on Jan 5.
Shahelmey, who was with three other Sabah Barisan-Umno assemblymen to support Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor during the failed political coup, said he has no plans to leave Umno as it was a suspension and not a sacking from the party.
"We wait for confirmation on my six-year suspension. If it becomes a reality, my status as MP is still valid,” he said.
He said he would still be an MP even if he is suspended as it would be similar to Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein's suspension.
"It is a suspension, not a sacking as a member," he said.
“I am an Umno member and a Barisan Member of Parliament. Only if I make a decision to leave the party would my seat in Parliament be left to the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (to decide) as it will be subject to the anti-hopping law," he said.
The other three Umno assemblymen to support Hajiji were Datuk Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit) and Datuk James Ratib (Sugut).
All three have left Umno to join Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah led by Hajiji.
