ANN/THE STAR – How will the Sabah political turmoil end?
The ending is unclear, as the fate of the state may depend on politicians in Kuala Lumpur.
Sabah Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor lost his majority on Friday after United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), with 13 assemblymen out of 18, decided to quit the state government.
Without UMNO’s 13, Hajiji officially has 35 assemblymen. They are 29 GRS assemblymen (15 GRS direct members who quit Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, seven Parti Bersatu Sabah, six Sabah Star and one SAPP) plus five UMNO rebels and one from PAS.
The Sulaman assemblyman needs at least 40 assemblymen in the 79-seat state assembly to remain in power.
Hajiji faces a political Sophie’s choice (a tough decision a person has to make).
He prefers to form a government with Pakatan Harapan (PH), which is in the state opposition.
If Pakatan pledged its support for the GRS Chairman, it would be: GRS 29 + PH seven + UMNO rebels five + PAS one + plus one or two small parties = 42 to 44.
Sabah PH chairman and PKR’s Api-Api state assemblyman Datuk Christina Liew and Sabah DAP Chairman and Tanjung Papat assemblyman are expected to be offered ministerial posts in Hajiji’s Cabinet.
Hajiji plans to swear them in tomorrow. But now he has Sophie’s choice to make.
