Joining Kinabalu Move would have betrayed people’s mandate, says Shahelmey

Joining Kinabalu Move would have betrayed people’s mandate, says Shahelmey

KUALA LUMPUR: Tanjung Keramat assemblyman Shahelmey Yahya says he refused to take part in the Kinabalu Move which failed to unseat Hajiji Noor as Sabah chief minister two years ago as he did not want to betray the people’s mandate.

Shahelmey, who was suspended from Umno for six years for defying the party’s directive at the time, said the people’s rejection of Warisan in the 2020 state election should have been respected.

He said that the Umno faction backing state chapter chief Bung Moktar Radin had sought to form an alliance with Warisan, led by Shafie Apdal, to topple the state government – a move which he said clearly went against the will of the people.

“Suddenly there was an attempt to overthrow a government that had been formed through the people’s mandate, and to return power to Warisan in an undemocratic manner.

“To me, that would have been a betrayal of the trust that the people placed in me,” he told FMT in an interview outside Parliament.

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Shahelmey also alleged that Bung had not consulted all of the Umno assemblymen before launching the Kinabalu Move.

“I was never consulted about the plan, but my principle was clear: I would not betray the people’s mandate by helping to change the government,” he said.

Shahelmey was among six Umno assemblymen who chose to back Hajiji’s administration.

The Kinabalu Move ultimately failed as Hajiji, who was appointed as chief minister in September 2020, also continued to command the backing of assemblymen from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Pakatan Harapan.

Bung was removed as deputy chief minister, and Shahelmey appointed in his place.

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Shahelmey said the failure of the Kinabalu Move turned out to be a blessing as Hajiji’s unity government grew stronger, creating political stability.

“With this stability, we can continue implementing the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan,” the Sabah works minister added.

Last week, Kunak assemblywoman Norazlinah Arif described the Kinabalu Move as the ultimate betrayal of the people of Sabah, claiming that Shafie was also involved.

Shafie however denied the allegation by the former Warisan women’s chief, saying the move arose from a conflict between Hajiji and Bung and had nothing to do with him.