‘Sabah assembly secretary may be fired’
Shafie: He may be sacked for allowing the swearing-in of Opposition assemblymen
KOTA KINABALU: The state assembly secretary who failed to notify the Sabah government and governor before the Opposition assemblymen were swornin on June 12 could face the axe, says Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
The Chief Minister said for now it had not been decided whether Datuk Bernard Dalinting would be sacked for letting the swearingin proceed.
“We will decide together with lawmakers and other relevant authorities,” he said during the state Hari Raya celebrations here yesterday.
All 21 assemblymen from Sabah Barisan Nasional and Sabah STAR did not attend the first meeting of the state assembly and swearingin on June 11.
However all, except for Sg Sibuga assemblyman and former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman and Apas assemblyman Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, had their own swearingin ceremony the next day.
Shafie said the 19 could have waited until July 2, when the next sitting will be held, to be sworn in by Yang diPertua Negri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.
Shafie, who is also Parti Warisan Sabah president and Semporna MP,
This is not interference by the state government into the legislative assembly; we will follow standing orders and laws.
pointed out there were standing orders in the assembly that should be followed.
“Why choose to do it themselves without informing us?” he asked.
Shafie said changes would be made in the state legislative assembly administration to ensure everyone understood the procedures.
“This is not interference by the state government into the legislative assembly; we will follow stand ing orders and laws,” he said.
Shafie said the Opposition parties should put aside political differences and start working with the new state government.
Separately, he said Warisan was expected to file several GE14 election petitions today.
The petitions involve Musa’s Sg Sibuga state seat, his son Yamani Hafez Musa’s Sipitang parliamentary seat and his younger brother Datuk Seri Anifah Aman’s Kimanis parliamentary seat.
Also being disputed are the wins of Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan in Tambunan state and Keningau parliamentary seats.
Meanwhile, Shafie said the strong turnout of more than 10,000 people to the Raya open house showed the people’s support for the new government.
He said the government and people were one and they should work together as well as be involved in all government agendas to realise all development plans.