‘I knew risks of not backing coup plotters'
Published on: Tuesday, April 09, 2024
By: Agust Dean
From left: Shahelmey, Bung, Salleh, Jafry and Yakub.
PAPAR: Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said he weighed the risks he will face when deciding not to support Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar’s group during the Kinabalu Move to oust the leadership of Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, last year.
To this end, he had expected Bung to drop the names of leaders not aligned with the party.
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“That was Bung Moktar’s statement as Sabah Umno Chairman.
“I was not on the same page as him during the Kinabalu Move attempt in January 2023,” he said.
Among those involved in the coup attempt with Bung who was Deputy Chief Minister-cum-State Works Minister were Datuk Salleh Said Keruak (Sabah Khazanah Chairman), Datuk Jafry Ariffin (State Tourism Minister) and Datuk Yakub Khan (Innovation, Science and Technology Minister).
All lost their jobs.
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“At that time, Sabah’s political stability was prioritised and when I decided not to be with Bung’s group, I also weighed the risk that (Umno’s leadership) will take due to the indifferences.”
The Tanjung Keramat Assemblyman said he is always open-minded about the party leadership’s decisions.
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However, there is still a year and a half before this term ends and wants to focus on his work first.
Shahelmey said this term officially ends at the end of next year and may be called earlier — at the discretion of the Chief Minister.
Thus, he would only make political calculations after the State Legislative Assembly is dissolved.
Shahelmey, along with three Umno assemblymen, namely Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk) and Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), decided to support Hajiji as Chief Minister.
The move was against central Umno’s decision to withdraw support for Hajiji.
Following that, all of them were subject to disciplinary action.
However, James, Mohd Arsad and Jasnih left to join Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) and only Shahelmey is still in Umno.
Umno has suspended Shahelmey’s membership for six years.
As a Member of Parliament, he is bound by the anti-hopping law enacted in October 2022.
During the State Cabinet reshuffle following the political crisis, Shahelmey was appointed Deputy Chief Minister to replace Bung.
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