FORMER Sabah chief minister Musa Aman was not present for the tabling of the state budget in the state assembly today.

The assembly is expected to convene next week, and critics have questioned whether the embattled Musa, who is Sibuga assemblyman, will turn up. He was absent from the last three sittings.

On Wednesday, Musa lost his bid at the Kota Kinabalu High Court to be declared the rightful chief minister. The ruling affirms Parti Warisan Sabah president Mohd Shafie Apdal as chief minister.

Musa, who took his oath as assemblyman in September, has said he is not running away from his responsibilities as an elected rep.

He is facing 35 counts of corruption, involving RM250 million related to timber concessions awarded to more than 15 companies between 2004 and 2008. He also faces a charge of criminal intimidation against the Sabah head of state.

Asked about Musa’s absence today, Shafie said: “It is up to him. It is his right to decide whether to attend the assembly.”

He said he is not bothered by whatever the opposition is doing, and that the state government’s focus is on “catching up” after wrangling with the chief minister dispute for six months. – November 9, 2018.