LIVE | Assembly dissolution gazetted, Musa shows he has the numbers

LIVE | Malaysiakini brings you updates on the Sabah upheaval.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Musa shows he has the numbers
• Sabah assembly officially dissolved, EC informed
• Musa, entourage barred from entering Sabah Palace
• PKR sacks Inanam rep for backing Musa
• Dissolution hands power back to people to decide - Zahid
• Musa: I have the right to be sworn-in as CM 
• Najib hits out at Shafie over assembly dissolution
• EC waiting for official notice from Sabah assembly speaker
• 'Caretaker Sabah govt should observe conventions on limited role' 
• Party-hopping makes elections ceremonial - PSM
• DAP sacks defecting assemblyperson
• Harapan gives Shafie's move full backing
• Musa set to hold press conference at residence
• Shafie teases Musa over swearing-in failure
• Shafie says Sabah governor to dissolve state assembly
• Musa expected to reveal next move at noon presser
• Warisan rep 'contributed' to fall of Warisan-led state govt - report
• Report: No indication from Sabah Palace on swearing-in
• Shafie Apdal starts meeting with Warisan reps
• There was a signal from palace to meet us - state Bersatu chief
• Shafie to hold discussion with Warisan reps, pushes back PC
• Musa Aman to meet governor
• Shafie exits Sabah Palace after meeting governor

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Musa shows he has the numbers

6.10pm - Musa has posted a photo on Facebook as proof that he has the numbers needed to form a state government.

The photo shows Musa and various Sabah assemblypersons holding up placards with the number 1 to 33.

The present Sabah legislative assembly has a total of 65 members comprising 60 elected representatives and five nominated representatives who were appointed by the state governor on the chief minister’s advice.

Musa again insists that the governor had a constitutional duty to consider his bid to form the state government.

"But if it's true the state assembly has been dissolved, I honestly say that we will fight in the coming election to give the people of Sabah a new government that is stable and fights for the interest of all Sabahans," he says.

Sabah assembly officially dissolved, EC informed

5.50pm - The dissolution of the Sabah state assembly has been made official by Governor Juhar Mahiruddin.

Caretaker Sabah deputy chief minister Wilfred Madius Tangau tweets photos of the governor's letter exercising his authority as per Article 21(2) of the state constitution to dissolve the legislature.

Wilfred says the state assembly secretary has been informed, and that they, in turn, have informed the Election Commission of the matter.

The dissolution has also been gazetted.

Musa, entourage barred from entering Sabah Palace

4.45pm - Musa and his entourage, comprising more than 10 luxury vehicles are being barred from entering the Sabah State Palace.

According to a report by Harian Metro, the group has been stopped by the police who set up a block near the Bulatan Nanas on Jalan Istana at 3.50pm.

Several lawyers believed to be advising Musa are seen trying to negotiate with the police officer who made the blockade, but they have not been able to overcome the restrictions.

Earlier, Musa in a press conference at his residence in Luyang announced that he has a majority to form the government and claimed that the dissolution of the state assembly as announced by Shafie was not appropriate.

PKR sacks Inanam rep Kenny Chua

4.20pm - The PKR's Disciplinary Board has dismissed Inanam state assemblyperson Kenny Chua Teck Ho from the party with immediate effect, says its disciplinary board chairperson Ahmad Kassim.

"We have taken note of the political situation in Sabah where yesterday the media recorded a picture of Kenny Chua Teck Ho along with the Musa Aman group who intended to bring down the Sabah state government.

"After receiving confirmation from the Sabah PKR leadership about his presence in the bloc that tried to bring down the Sabah state government, the Disciplinary Board has decided that Kenny Chua Teck Ho be fired from PKR with immediate effect," he says.

Dissolution hands power back to people to decide - Zahid

3.25pm - Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says Sabah's political crisis should be resolved immediately and should be a lesson to other states because priority must be given to the people.

"Even the efforts to form the new government (by Musa Aman) have been denied with the advice from Sabah Chief Minister (Shafie Apdal) to the Sabah governor that the assembly is dissolved.

"The fact is that this dissolution has handed back the power to the people to decide in the form of a new mandate given.

"I hope what is happening in Sabah will be a lesson to other states because the people should be given priority," Zahid (photo) tells reporters at the Kuala Lumpur court complex where he is facing trial on corruption charges.

Musa: I have the right to be sworn-in as CM 

3pm - Sabah Umno leader Musa Aman tells a press conference this afternoon that he has the right to be sworn-in as the state chief minister.

According to a short video of the presser available on Facebook, Musa, who is a former Sabah chief minister, said the state governor also has the responsibility to consider the majority that he purportedly has.

"I am eligible to be appointed as Sabah chief minister by the governor as I have the support of the majority (of state representatives).

"The governor has the responsibility under the constitution to consider whether I have the majority to form a new state government," he says in the video, which is posted by Sabah's See Hua Daily News page.

He adds that he was not shocked by the move by Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal in suggesting for dissolution of the state assembly.

Musa claims he has a simple majority with the support of 33 assemblypersons to form Sabah government, not necessary to dissolve state assembly, reports Bernama.

Najib hits out at Shafie over assembly dissolution

2.50pm - Former premier Najib Abdul Razak slams Shafie over his call for the state assembly to be dissolved.

"After GE14, he robbed the mandate of the Sabah BN government. At that time he didn't ask to disband the state assembly.

"Last month, he said that he doesn't need to disband it because of Covid-19 and the economic crisis, but today he wanted it dissolved," says Najib.

"You don't have to worry about Sabah. You better focus on your struggle to become prime minister under Pakatan Harapan Plus," adds the Pekan MP caustically.

EC waiting for official notice from Sabah assembly speaker

2.40pm - The Election Commission (EC) is awaiting for an official notification from Sabah speaker Syed Abas Syed Ali regarding the dissolution of the state assembly.

"The speaker of the Sabah state assembly needs to issue a notice (to the EC) first. Once the notice has been received, the EC will issue a statement," says an EC official when contacted by Bernama today.

Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal in a press conference in Kota Kinabalu earlier today had announced the dissolution of the state assembly to make way for the state election and that it had received the consent of Governor Juhar Mahiruddin.

'Caretaker Sabah govt should observe conventions on limited role' 

2.10pm - The Sabah Law Society president Roger Chin issues a reminder of the role of the caretaker government.

Chin, who heads the statutory body representing lawyers in the state, says: "The caretaker government at the state level is a state government during a period that starts when the state assembly is dissolved by the governor of Sabah prior to a state election, and continues for a period after the election, until the next cabinet in Sabah is appointed.

"A caretaker government is expected to conduct itself in accordance with a series of well-defined conventions that are administered by the state secretariat, although there is no law compelling the caretaker government to do so."

Under these conventions, he adds, the state government should cease taking major policy decisions except on urgent matters and then only after a formal consultation with the opposition.

"It should cease making major appointments of public officials, entering major contracts or undertakings and defer such major international negotiations, or adopts observer status, until the end of the caretaker period," says Chin.

Party-hopping makes elections ceremonial - PSM

1.45pm - PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan weighs in on Sabah situation saying that as long as party-hopping is legal, elections are just ceremonial.

"The problem in Sabah is actually not fresh elections but party hopping. Compared to all other states in Malaysia, Sabah has the most vibrant democracy if you take into consideration, the numbers of parties which have ruled the state – Usno, Berjaya, PBS, BN and Warisan.

"But who can forget how in 1994, PBS who had just won the 1994 state elections with a slim majority of 25 seats against BN's 23 seats was forced out of power two weeks later because of party-hopping.

"In 2018, between Musa and Shafie, they called each other backdoor government. The truth is money politics at the end of the day determines who rules Sabah and not the people’s mandate," he adds.

DAP sacks defecting assemblyperson

1.15pm - DAP's Disciplinary Committee chairperson Chong Chieng Jen announces the immediate termination of the membership of Ronnie Loh Ee Eng, who is a nominated representative of the Sabah state assembly.

"Loh (photo) was sacked on the grounds of his defection from DAP to support the Perikatan Nasional coalition in Sabah with the intent to topple the Sabah state government of Shafie Apdal," says Chong is a statement.

"The termination takes immediate effect. He is also hereby removed from all his positions in the party. The Disciplinary Committee advises all our members to disassociate themselves from the defector," he adds.

Harapan gives Shafie's move full backing

1pm - Only the people of Sabah will be able to defeat the ill-intentioned attempt to seize power in the state, say Pakatan Harapan leaders Anwar Ibrahim (PKR), Mohamad Sabu (Amanah) and Lim Guan Eng (DAP).

In a statement issued by the Pakatan Harapan presidential council, the three leaders express full and undivided support for Chief Minister Shafie Apdal and his government to oppose what they call "evil, undemocratic and immoral attempt" to overthrow the state government by buying over elected representatives.

"Harapan has full support for defeating this highly flawed defection attempt - which has been triggered by the elements of the Perikatan Nasional - and supports the immediate dissolution of the Sabah assembly and the return of the mandate to the people.

"Only the people will be able to defeat the evil coup that has been launched by former chief minister Musa Aman, with the full support of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin," they say.

Musa set to hold press conference at residence

12.30pm - Several local reporters are currently gathering at Musa Aman’s home in Seri Anggerik for a press conference to be held by the former chief minister.

Security is reportedly tight as media members are not allowed to enter without proper approval.

Earlier this morning, Musa was reported to have tried to meet the Sabah Governor Juhar Mahiruddin with the intention of being sworn-in as chief minister but just half an hour ago, Chief Minister Shafie Apdal announced that the governor has assented to dissolving the state assembly, paving the way for fresh polls.

Read the full story here.

Shafie teases Musa over swearing-in failure

12.10pm - In announcing the dissolution of the Sabah State Assembly, Chief Minister Shafie Apdal is unable to resist taking a dig at his predecessor Musa Aman's alleged attempt to be sworn-in instead.

"There are stories of some going to the Sabah Palace wanting to angkat sana, angkat sini (carry there, carry here) but the state assembly has been dissolved," he says in a jocular reference to Musa's attempt to angkat sumpah (be sworn-in).

"Under Sabah state law, if our assembly is dissolved for the next 60 days, I'm still the caretaker.

"I am still the chief minister in administering the state of Sabah until the time an election is announced," he adds.

Shafie says the people of Sabah can choose and they should choose wisely, be it "Musa Aman, Bung Mukhtar Radin or Shafie Apdal."

He earlier revealed that the governor has agreed to dissolve the state assembly. 

Shafie says Sabah governor to dissolve state assembly

12.05pm - Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal tells a press conference that he has decided to apply to Governor Juhar Mahiruddin to dissolve the Sabah state assembly, paving the way for fresh polls to end the political deadlock in the state.

He says that he had received the nod from Juhar to dissolve the Sabah state assembly and that the state would go for snap polls within 60 days as per the state constitution.

The date of the polling day would be determined by the Election Commission,  said Shafie, who is also Parti Warisan Sabah president.

"Ladies and gentlemen, after I wrote the letter yesterday, I went to meet the governor in the evening to present the letter (seeking for dissolution of the state assembly).

"And this morning I had an audience with him again, where the Governor had given his agreement for dissolution of the state assembly," Shafie tells reporters in a press conference at the Sabah State Administrative Centre in  Kota Kinabalu.

"We should be aware that there are parties from KL coming to Sabah very often and applying pressure not only on the leadership but on all levels," he says.

Musa expected to reveal next move at noon presser

11.05am - Former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman is calling for a press conference at his residence at noon today.

This is according to a report by The Borneo Post on the development of the situation in the state.

Yesterday, Musa (photo) held a press conference announcing that he had purportedly secured enough support among state assemblypersons to form a state government.

However, it is still unclear whether the Umno leader had managed to get an audience with Governor Juhar Mahiruddin.

Warisan rep 'contributed' to fall of Warisan-led state govt - report

11am - Sin Chew Daily reports the "contribution" of Warisan Kemabong assemblyperson Jamawi Jaafar to the fall of the Warisan-led state government.

Jamawi, who is also Sabah Government Backbenchers Club chairperson, appeared at Musa Aman’s residence last night.

He is believed to have signed the statutory declaration to give support to the former Sabah chief minister.

Jamawi was an Umno member but had turned his support for Warisan after GE14.

Report: No indication from Sabah Palace on swearing-in

10.53am - Despite hopes by former Sabah CM Musa Aman that he could meet with Governor Juhar Mahiruddin by 10am today and be sworn-in as chief minister, The Star reports from Kota Kinabalu that there has been no indication from the Sabah Palace of any swearing ceremony as of 10.30am.

This comes after Musa's claim that he is able to form a state government with the support of a majority of assemblypersons.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shafie Apdal is in a closed-door meeting with Warisan reps and other members of his ruling coalition. It is understood that the dissolution of the 26-month-old state assembly is one of the proposals they are considering.

Shafie starts meeting with Warisan reps

10.40am - Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal enters a hall in the Sabah State Administrative Centre, where reporters, as well as people's representatives who are in support of his leadership, have been waiting for him.

Members of the media are then asked to clear the room as Shafie wants to have a closed-door meeting with the representatives first.

An aide says Shafie will hold his press conference after the meeting, tentatively at 11am.

He is expected to address the issue of support from state assemblypersons for his Warisan-led state government, following the announcement by former CM Musa Aman that the latter had purportedly secured a slim majority to form a government.

There was a signal from palace to meet us - state Bersatu chief

10.20am - Sabah Bersatu chief and Sulaman state assemblyperson Hajiji Mohd Noor confirms that the opposition will meet Governor Juhar Mahiruddin.

"There was a signal (from the palace to meet us), but the time is not fixed yet," he says when contacted by Malaysiakini.

He is hopeful that former chief minister Musa Aman will be sworn in as the new chief minister today.

"InshaAllah (God willing), if everything goes on smoothly," he adds.

Hajiji says the opposition has obtained the support of at least 34 state assemblypersons out of 65 to take over the Warisan-led state government.

"More than 34, we have a simple majority."

Shafie to hold discussion with Warisan reps, pushes back PC

10am - Shafie Apdal is meeting Warisan state assemblypersons and MPs this morning.

According to an aide of the Warisan president, the meeting would take place before Shafie addresses a press conference which was initially scheduled at 10am at the Sabah State Administrative Centre.

"The presser would be held after the meeting, between 10 and 11am," said the aide.

Earlier, Shafie had gone into the Sabah State Palace to meet Governor Juhar Mahiruddin before he was seen leaving the palace around 9am.

Musa Aman to meet governor

9.40am - Former Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman is on the way to the Sabah Palace to meet with state Governor Juhar Mahiruddin at 10am.

In the latest report on Bernama's Facebook page Musa is reported to be commanding a majority support in Sabah's state assembly and is ready to be sworn in as chief minister.

Shafie exits Sabah Palace after meeting governor

9.20am - Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal holds audience with the state Governor Juhar Mahiruddin this morning.

According to Sinar Harian, an entourage led by Shafie was seen entering the Sabah Palace in Kota Kinabalu at around 8.25am. Shafie’s car was seen leaving the palace at 9am.

Shafie is expected to call a press conference at 10am.

This was the second meeting between Shafie and Juhar within 24 hours. It was believed the last night meeting between the two held at the state palace included discussions over the possibility of state polls.

This came after former chief minister Musa announced yesterday that he had purportedly obtained a slim majority from state representatives to form a government.

Musa, who is Sungai Sibuga state assemblyperson, claimed that he has secured enough statutory declarations (SDs) from state assemblypersons supporting him.

The Umno leader, however, did not state the actual numbers. Musa also claimed that he had been instructed by the governor to submit the SDs.

In a controversial decision last month, attorney-general Idrus Harun dropped 46 corruption and money laundering charges levelled against Musa.

The present Sabah legislative assembly has a total of 65 members comprising 60 elected representatives and five nominated representatives who were appointed by Juhar on Shafie’s advice.

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