Sipitang MP called to vacate seat after failing to attend swearing-in

SIPITANG: Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob has called on Sipitang member of parliament Yamani Hafez Musa to vacate his seat if he does not intend to take up his responsibility as the elected representative seriously.

Yusof strongly feels that Yamani should make way for another person who really wants to serve and help the constituents in Sipitang.

He said the support given by the constituents to Yamani in the 14th general election had come to nothing as the latter appeared to have abandoned them.

“What a waste of the constituents’ support in the general election; in fact, an elected representative cannot just disappear and abandon the rakyat in his constituency,” said the Education and Innovation Minister.

Yusof, who was met after officiating at the Persatuan Kedayan Sabah Zon Usuk in Kampung Lubuk Darat Sipitang on Saturday night, said this when asked to comment on Yamani’s absence at the recent swearing-in ceremony for members of parliament. De facto Law Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong had said that elected MPs who were not sworn in may be disqualified after six months from July 16 if they fail to take their oath as provided under Article 59 of the Federal Constitution.

Yamani was one of the two elected MPs who did not turn up for the swearing in of the new lawmakers at Parliament on Monday. The other was Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is on sick leave. Liew said the Dewan Rakyat would make another arrangement for Muhyiddin to be sworn in later.

“As for YB Sipitang, we did not receive any notification by way of a letter on why he was not able to turn up on Monday for the swearing in,” Liew added.

Yamani is believed to have left the country a few days after the May 9 general election and is in London with his father Tan Sri Musa Aman who is wanted by state police over allegations of criminal intimidation against the governor.