PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has mooted for a unity government to be formed in Sabah, said state UMNO chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
This is following Anwar’s announcement last night that he had given his blessing to embattled Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to continue leading the state.
The Prime Minister pointed out that he also wants the Sabah government to remain strong under Hajiji’s leadership, and will give the chief minister room to hold discussions and find the best formula for the good of Sabah.
In a statement, Bung expressed his confidence that a unity government in Sabah will be able to turn down the political heat in the state and stabilise the political situation.
“I also hope that Chief Minister [Hajiji] will accept the prime minister’s suggestion with an open heart to ensure the best interests of the people of Sabah,” he remarked.
Recall that last Friday, Bung announced that Sabah UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) had retracted their support for Hajiji due to loss of confidence in his position as chief minister and over a breach in an agreement between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The following day, however, five BN assemblymen stated their support for Hajiji and are among the 44 assemblymen who Hajiji claims are supporting him to remain as chief minister and the head of the state government.
The Sabah state assembly has 79 assemblymen, including six appointed members.
On Hajiji’s claim of majority support, Bung was reported as saying, “Of course, he has 44 (state assemblymen backing him), those are my people.” He also accused Hajiji of “bribing” or luring them away.
GRS and Barisan Nasional are both part of Anwar’s unity federal government. Sabah BN had been part of the GRS-led state government, which was supported by Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) and other minor parties at the time.
Meanwhile, Bung, in his statement, also said that most of the Sabah UMNO assemblymen will not be able to attend today’s special state assembly sitting as they will be heading to Kuala Lumpur to attend the UMNO general assembly from Jan 11 to 14.
“However, we fully support the new state laws on gas supply which will be tabled in the sitting,” he said.
Anwar said yesterday two important bills, including one to hand over gas supply regulatory rights, will be tabled in the state assembly.
On Dec 21, he announced that the Cabinet has agreed to transfer the full regulatory control of gas supply to the Sabah state government as part of the federal government’s efforts to uphold the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
After the reassignment of power, the Sabah government could continue with negotiations on gas supply in the state without having to wait for the federal administration, he added. – Jan 10, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
