PUTATAN: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya must vacate his Putatan parliamentary seat, held since November 2022, should he intend to contest in the 17th state election.
Sabah Umno chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said this is what needed to be done if Shahelmey, whose membership in Umno has been suspended, wishes to defend the Tanjung Keramat state seat.
He said Shahelmy must adhere to Election Commission regulations should he wish to contest the seat.
"The decision lies in his hands... if he (decides) to contest then he needs to adhere to the rules, (and) he must resign as an MP.
"If so, there might be simultaneous elections, for the state seat and a by-election for the Putatan parliamentary seat. That is the EC's regulation," he said when met by reporters after the Sabah Umno breaking-of-fast event, last night.
Also present during the event was Sabah Umno deputy chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Bung Moktar was speaking in response to queries over Shahelmy's position in the upcoming state election should the latter decide to defend his Tanjung Keramat seat which he won on Barisan Nasional's ticket during the last state election.
This comes after the possibility of Shahelmy, who is also Works Minister, not being fielded to represent Umno in the next state election following his suspension.
Meanwhile, Bung Moktar also gave his assurances that Sabah Umno was capable of winning both the Putatan parliamentary seat and the Tanjung Karang state seat in the next election.
"God willing, we have many candidates that we can field if there is a by-election in Putatan soon," he said.
Last year, Umno suspended Shahelmy's membership for six years following his continued support towards Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman.
This comes after Bung Moktar's announcement that Sabah Umno and Barisan Nasional would be withdrawing their support towards Hajiji.
Aside from Shahelmey, four other Umno assemblymen who supported Hajiji were Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk), and Datuk Hamild Awang (Balung).