Let Sabah people decide on who the CM is, says Jeffrey

PETALING JAYA: Sabah opposition chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan says the people of Sabah should decide on the issue of who is the rightful chief minister.

“Let the people of Sabah decide,” was his response following the High Court’s declaration that Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal was the legitimate CM.

“It is better to let the people decide rather than the courts, or the Yang di-Pertua Negri, as that is the pur- pose of an election.

“The New Malaysia says there is supposed to be more democracy but now, only the Yang di-Pertua Negri decides; what sort of democracy is this?” he told The Star yesterday.

Dr Jeffrey, the Tambunan assemblyman and Keningau MP, described the court’s decision as “ridiculous”, adding that it had put Sabah’s constitution on par with that of Perak.

“This is also to say that the Yang di-Pertua Negri can decide who has the confidence (by signatures) of the majority, not the Dewan Undangan Negeri?

“This also means the King can decide whether Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad can remain as Prime Minister or not?” he added.

Dr Jeffrey said the decision would set a dangerous precedent with regard to the separation of powers, while promoting party crossovers in Sabah.

“That also means I can go and bring 31 people (assemblymen) to get myself sworn in and then, if some are not satisfied, they will go and get signatures to support them and subsequently be sworn in,” he said.

Asked if the declaration would put the brakes on the supposed significant number of crossovers from various political parties to Sabah STAR (Parti Solidariti Tanah AirKu) which he heads, Dr Jeffrey said he did not think so.

On Tuesday, Dr Jeffrey claimed that those expected to join Sabah STAR were Sook assemblyman Datuk Ellron Angin of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and Upko turned independent politician Datuk Bobbey Suan, who won the Nabawan seat.

Sabah DAP secretary Chan Foong Hin described the High Court decision as “karma” biting back at Barisan Nasional, for wresting control of Perak from the then Pakatan Rakyat in 2009.

“It is karma bringing back the same bad vibes to the Barisan,” he added.