KOTA KINABALU: The upcoming Sabah state election will be the real test for Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and Datuk Andi Suryady Bandy to prove whether they still command support without the Sabah Barisan Nasional (Barisan) banner.
Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the two leaders should contest on their own merit if they truly believed they still had the people’s support.
“It’s time for Shahelmey and Andi to show real courage instead of hiding behind the power they gained through betrayal of Barisan’s struggle,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Oct 12).
“Let’s see how strong they really are without the Barisan flag. Prove that your victories in the previous elections were because of yourselves, not because of the party machinery, voters and influence of Barisan,” he added.
Bung, who is also the Kinabatangan MP and incumbent Lamag assemblyman, said Sabahans have grown more politically aware and can now tell who are the loyal leaders and who have compromised their principles for power.
He described the duo as symbols of “politics without principles,” saying both men had turned their backs on their party and betrayed their comrades for temporary positions.
“Barisan is ready to face them in the 17th state election — not just to win, but to erase the legacy of betrayal that has tarnished Sabah’s political integrity,” he said.
Bung added that Barisan supporters were now more united than ever and determined to send a clear message that betrayal, no matter how it is justified, will not be respected.
“It’s time for voters in Tanjung Keramat and Tanjung Batu to unite and teach these two a lesson. The people who once lifted them should now be the ones to bring them down,” he said.
Shahelmey is the caretaker Deputy Chief Minister III and State Works Minister, as well as the Putatan MP and Tanjung Keramat assemblyman. Andi is the caretaker Assistant Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister, Kalabakan MP and Tanjung Batu assemblyman.
Both Shahelmey and Andi were suspended Umno members who switched allegiance to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) during the 2023 Langkah Kinabalu political crisis that attempted to unseat Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji, who is also GRS chairman, said yesterday (Oct 11) that both leaders had expressed their wish to contest under the GRS ticket, but their status would be decided when the time comes.
