Musa, son have until September, January
KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman and son, Yamani Hafez, have until September and January, respectively, to take their oath as assemblyman and member of parliament (MP).
The father and son, who won the Sungai Sibuga state seat and Sipitang parliamentary seat respectively, in the 14th General Election had gone “missing” and have yet to be sworn in.
This means Musa’s and Yamani’s seats can be declared vacant and by-elections must be held if both fail to take their oaths within the stipulated period.
Musa has 90 days since the first Sabah sitting on June 11 to be sworn in, which means his opportunity ends next month.
Based on the 90-day estimate, the deadline is on Sept 8 or 9.
Musa needs to attend the upcoming state assembly sitting scheduled to start next Monday, but state Deputy Speaker Datuk George Ginibun had stated that the speaker could not declare the seat vacant even if the ex-CM was not present in the upcoming session. They need to adhere to the 90-day rule, he stressed.
Musa was reportedly in the United Kingdom to undergo medical treatment and has not returned to Sabah since May.
He is wanted by police to facilitate a criminal intimidation complaint filed by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin. Yamani, who was reportedly accompanying his father, has six months from July 16 to take the oath.
This has been explained by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, who is in charge of law, that MPs who did not get sworn in on July 16, will lose their eligibility in six months.
The Dewan Rakyat reportedly did not receive any notification letter from Yamani on why he was not present during the swearingin ceremony.
He, however, can take the oath at the second Dewan Rakyat sitting which is scheduled on Oct 15, to run for 30 days.