KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya has accepted Umno’s decision to suspend him from the party although he has not received an official notice from the party.
He said he found out about his suspension from the news, which was announced by Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
“I take it that it was official, although I’m still waiting for the letter from Umno headquarters. Perhaps the letter could be on its way.
“I accept the decision with an open heart, and now I’m serving the suspension of my party membership for six years,” said Shahelmey, who is Tanjung Keramat assemblyman and Putatan MP, when contacted yesterday.
He said he is still a Barisan Nasional MP for Putatan.
Shahelmey was among four Sabah Umno assemblymen who supported Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor when Bung Moktar pulled Sabah Barisan Nasional’s support for Hajiji’s Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government in January.
Hajiji survived the political coup with the support of the renegade Sabah Umno assemblymen and the support of Pakatan Harapan assemblymen.
After chairing the new Sabah Umno committee meeting on Sunday, Bung Moktar announced Shahelmey’s suspension by the party’s supreme council, while three other Barisan-Umno assemblymen – Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk) and Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit) – were sacked.
