UMNO rep Shahelmey does not support move to oust Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU: UMNO's Tanjung Keramat state assemblyman Datuk Shahelmey Yahya is against Sabah Barisan Nasional's (BN) decision to withdraw support from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister.

Shahelmey, who is also Putatan MP, said state assemblymen should be focussing on developing the state instead of getting involved in plots to topple the state government.

The state Community Development and People's Well-being Minister said changing the state government without a compelling reason or the people's agreement would create a perception of political instability.

"The Sabah state administration under the GRS-BN coalition has done well by increasing the state's revenue to RM6.5 billion last year from RM5 billion the year before.

"This is not the time to play politics but to continue with efforts to develop the economy and the state," he told reporters after opening the "SMART Jawab SPM 2022" programme at Dewan SM Maktab Sabah here today.

Shahelmey's statement has answered the question of why he was not present at a press conference yesterday where Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin announced that BN was withdrawing its support for Hajiji.

Shahelmey said he chose to stay away because he did not support the move made by Bung Moktar and other leaders of the party.

At the press conference, Bung Moktar said "UMNO and Sabah BN" no longer supported Hajiji and had lost confidence in his leadership as he had allegedly violated an agreement reached between BN and Perikatan Nasional in forming the state government.

-- BERNAMA