Let courts decide on writ by Musa, says Shafie

SEMPORNA: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has left it to the courts to decide on the writ of summons filed yesterday by Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman against him and Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

Mohd Shafie said the matter was not a problem and he would abide by the laws and regulations.

In fact, he said, Musa should emulate former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan who stepped down like a gentlemen when he did not receive the support of the majority of state assemblymen, giving way to Tun Sakaran Dandai to be the chief minister in 1994.

“I remember when he (Pairin) was sworn in and formed the government (but) later he lost the support of a number of assemblymen and the majority was not enough.

“He was a law-abiding gentleman and one who understands the law, without any objections took the advice of the then-Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Said Keruak and resigned to enable Tun Sakaran to take over as chief minister,” Shafie told reporters after the breaking of fast at the Pekan Semporna Mosque here yesterday.

Shafie said, apart from Pairin’s case there were other clear examples such as in Perak, the case of former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin who fell when he did not get the majority of assemblyman support.

“Based on Article 7 of the Sabah State Constitution, it is quite clear that when the chief minister does not have sufficient number of votes (expressing the confidence of the majority of assemblymen), then on the consideration and views of the Yang Dipertua Negeri, the chief minister should step down besides dismissing the State Legislative Assembly on his consent,” he said.