SABAH Chief Minister Shafie Apdal walked out of the Kota Kinabalu high court this afternoon, which had confirmed him as the state government’s rightful leader, to be greeted with jubilant shouts of “Sabah Baru” by a throng of Parti Warisan Sabah supporters.

High court judge Yew Jing Kie had just dismissed a suit filed by former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman to challenge Shafie’s swearing-in.

“It proves that Warisan had never interfered with anything. The judge has made a very good and fair decision.

“It’s time for the opposition to allow Warisan to do its work of running the administration of Sabah,” said Warisan supporter Matthew Yong outside the courthouse.

About 1,000 Warisan supporters had gathered outside with a heavy police presence.

Some 600 police personnel, including a light strike force and anti-riot units, have been deployed around Kota Kinabalu, after Musa’s backers from Gabungan Bersatu Sabah as well as from Shafie’s Warisan had promised to show up in force.

Shafie told reporters that the court’s decision is apt as the state constitution cannot be disputed.

“But what’s more important right now is that we ensure we do our work, and the welfare of the people is taken care of.”

He said the state government will continue to provide jobs and help Sabah’s poor.

“With this decision, it is my hope that there will no longer be any quarters thinking that we are not the legitimate (state) government.

“We have been running the state for six months.” – November 7, 2018.