TYT needs time to consider who should be Sabah CM
Sources say there is dissatisfaction from BN-Umno camp, with PBS playing kingmaker
SABAHANS will have to wait a little bit longer before their new chief minister is unveiled. The name of the new state leader was expected to be announced yesterday. However, Yang diPertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin said he needed more time to make the decision.
Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, together with other Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders, was granted an audience with Tun Juhar at Istana Negeri yesterday.
Asked by reporters when the decision was expected to be made, Bung only replied: “As soon as possible.”
Bung and Sabah Perikatan Nasional (PN) chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had an audience with Tun Juhar around 2.30pm.
The delegation also comprised Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) secretarygeneral Datuk Jahid Jahim.
Hajiji said he was leaving the appointment of the new chief minister to Juhar.
Jahid, meanwhile, said they had submitted documents to the Istana. It is understood that the documents were statutory declarations to support the PN’s choice of chief minister.
“The process went smoothly. It was a good discussion.
“We will be leaving it to the Tuan Yang Terutama to make his decision,” said Jahid.
The leaders earlier held a meeting to discuss Sabah’s new chief ministerial candidate following Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) win in the 16th state election.
The discussion took place at the Magellan Sutera Resort in the presence of federal PN and Barisan Nasional (BN)-Umno leaders. Present at the discussion were Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, BN-Umno veteran leader Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak, and other BN and PN elected representatives.
Following GRS’ win in a fought 16th Sabah election on Saturday, speculation had been mounting over who would become the new chief minister.
In the election GRS secured 38 seats, with PN winning 17 seats, BN obtaining 14 seats, and PBS getting seven seats.
The GRS coalition comprised PN, BN and PBS.
Sources had indicated that there was some dissatisfaction from the BN-Umno camp on the choice of the chief minister candidate. PBS is understood to be the kingmaker in resolving the issue.
Despite rumours of possible switches in allegiances, nothing had materialised so far.
Warisan Plus, meanwhile, secured 32 seats with Parti Warisan Sabah, DAP and Amanah getting 29 seats, PKR winning two seats, and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) obtaining one seat. Of the 29 seats won under Warisan Plus, six seats were held by DAP.
Three independent candidates also scored wins and have since pledged their support for GRS.
Warisan chief Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, after the election results were announced on Saturday night, did not appear to concede defeat, saying that any subsequent decision would be made based on the current political situation.
He also said Warisan was the party that managed to secure the most seats.
Meanwhile, PBS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai rejected claims that his party would form an alliance with Warisan Plus in a bid to form the new state government.
“This claim was widely circulated on social media following the state election results yesterday. PBS, as an equal partner in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, remains firm with its allies — Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional,” he said in a brief statement.