Sabah Umno pullout from state govt a consensus decision, says info chief

KOTA KINABALU: It was not a decision by one man for Sabah Umno to withdraw its support for the state government in January last year but one based on consensus, says state party information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir said.

He said there was no basis for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's claim that only state Umno chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and a few leaders withdrew support while other Umno leaders remained with his government.

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He said such a claim was confusing and could create confusion among Umno members that the pullout was the act of just one leader.

Hajiji had said on Sunday (Oct 6) that the withdrawal of support involved only Bung Moktar and a few leaders.

In responding to the claim, Suhaimi said the Sabah Umno meeting chaired by Bung Moktar that decided to withdraw support for the state government had the consensus of all present, including some assemblymen who were ministers and assistant ministers, as well as division heads.

"That decision (to withdraw) was unanimous. I want to correct Hajiji's claim that it was the decision of Bung Moktar alone," Suhaimi, the Libaran MP, said in a statement on Monday (Oct 7).

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Suhaimi conceded, however, that some Umno assemblymen had remained with Hajiji's GRS government.

He said Hajiji's appointment of Sabah Umno's now-suspended Tanjung Keramat assemblyman Datuk Shahelmey Yahya as Deputy Chief Minister III was not a representation of the party in the state government.

“(The presence of) some Barisan-Umno assemblymen in Hajiji's cabinet is just window dressing to hide GRS' quiet attempt after GE15 to work with Perikatan Nasional," he claimed.

However, Suhaimi said that after Perikatan, led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, failed to form the Federal Government, GRS made a U-turn and supported the Pakatan Harapan-led unity government.

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“This reflects a party and government lacking principles and direction, and (indicates) confusion within GRS (which) at the same time allows Perikatan leaders to hold positions in the state government," he said.

Suhaimi claimed that GRS’ current actions to support the unity government are merely "an act" to mislead people, including the Prime Minister.

"GRS leaders express sentiments like 'this is our house; we take care of it' and 'reject Malayan parties'.

"These are not directed solely at Umno, as the Sabah Pakatan coalition also includes parties like PKR and DAP," he added.