KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno and Barisan Nasional have made a unanimous decision to withdraw their support for the state government.
Sabah Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also state BN chairman said party members decided on the stand tonight due to a "loss of confidence" in Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Bung Moktar also cited breach of agreement between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN) as a reason for the exit.
The state Public Works Minister went on to express dissatisfaction over Hajiji's action of firing Sabah BN Elections Director, Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak as Sabah Qhazanah chairman and threatening a state Cabinet reshuffle.
"Hajiiji has violated the agreement (to form the state government) made between BN, PN, and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) during the state election in September 2020. Hajiji and other Sabah Bersatu leaders, (a component of PN), left the party, undermining the legitimacy of the state government.
"The political understanding, among other things, states that the BN and Umno state assembly members will support and trust Hajiji to be appointed as Chief Minister as long as the Cabinet Ministers and the chairman of state government-owned company are appointed from BN and Umno.
"Today, the Chief Minister terminated Salleh's position as Sabah Qhazanah chairman and threatened us with a Cabinet reshuffle without discussing with us first.
"Thus, we unanimously withdrew our support for Hajiji and have decided to exit the state government. We lost faith after Hajiji left Bersatu.
"We have discussed with several lawyers who informed us that Hajiji has lost locus standi and is not qualified to be Chief Minister," the deputy chief minister said at a press conference tonight.
In regards to the possibility of BN and Umno collaborating with other parties, including Parti Warisan, to form a new government, Bung Moktar said nothing has been confirmed.
He added that he would inform Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about the decision soon.
Meanwhile, Bung Moktar who is also a member of the Lamag State Legislative Assembly and Member of Parliament for Kinabatangan said, currently Sabah Umno has support from 18 assemblymen including Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi (Segama) who has just joined the party.
He said the five Umno assemblymen who did not support the decision would face action.
The Sabah state assembly has 79 assemblymen, 73 elected and six appointed.
Following the latest development, Bernama reported that the state government led by Hajiji now has the support of 41 assemblymen, 29 from GRS, PH (seven), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (three), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (one) and an independent.
Warisan has 19 seats while Pas has one seat.