Shafie waiting to be sworn in as new CM
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah ( Warisan) president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal will be sworn in as the new Chief Minister following the collapse of Tan Sri Musa Aman’s short-lived state government.
After less than 24 hours, six assemblymen from Musa’s government left Barisan Nasional ( BN) to join Warisan.
They are Tanjong Batu’s Datuk Hamisah Samat, Sebatik’s Datuk Abdul Muis Picho, Kemabong’s Jamawi Jaafar, Balung’s Datuk Osman Jamal, Paginatan’s Datuk Abidin Madingkir, Kadamaian’s Ewon Benedick.
As a result, Warisan has a total of 35 seats and it will now be able to form the state government.
Shafie revealed that he had sent a letter to the Head of State
If the Chief Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the legislative assembly... the Chief Minister should tender the resignations of the members of the cabinet. Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president
Tun Juhar Mahiruddin in regard to the results of GE14 and the current majority support in the state assembly, as there had been a breach in Article 7 of the Constitution.
“If the Chief Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the legislative assembly ... the Chief Minister should tender the resignations of the members of the cabinet,” Shafie said during a press conference at his house at around 6pm on Friday.
Thus, Shafie asserted that Musa no longer has enough seats and the public’s confidence.
It was revealed that Shafie had submitted a letter and a legal document, which was a statutory declaration, where each and every member of the state assembly had declared that he would be appointed as the next Chief Minister.
He opined that he should be sworn in as Chief Minister as soon as possible as the issue should not be dragged any further.
Commenting on the departure of the six BN assemblymen, Shafie said there was no inducement involved, contrary to what Musa had allegedly done to the five assemblymen.
“There is no doubt about the ability for me to be sworn in, in accordance with the law and the provisions provided,” he said.