THE six representatives who won state seats in Sabah on a Barisan Nasional ticket – four from Umno and two from Upko – confirmed their support of Parti Warisan Sabah’s Shafie Apdal to be the state’s chief minister. 

The six are Osman Jamal (Balung), Hamisah Samad (Tanjong Batu), Jamawi Jaafar (Kemabong), Abdul Muis Picho (Sebatik) of Umno, and Abidin Madingkir (Panginatan) and Ewon Benedict (Kadamaian) of Upko. 

They were all present for a press conference at Shafie’s house after an audience with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Juhar Mahiruddin at Istana Anak Negeri Sabah earlier today. 

Warisan now has 35 state seats and can form the government.

Shafie said they had met Juhar and declared that they did not support BN’s Musa Aman’s swearing-in today. 

“All 35 followed protocol and gave statutory declarations,” Shafie said. 

“No inducements or remunerations were given. They all came to my house voluntarily, as was seen by the media,” he said, adding that he expects Musa to act accordingly.

“We hope Musa will abide by the rule of law.”

Meanwhile, Ewon said he and Abidin had also met Juhar before Musa’s swearing-in last night. 

“Before that, we were not fully aware of Upko’s stand concerning Warisan because the party’s supreme council had not made it clear, although we knew we had a a pre-existing agreement to support BN. 

“We told Juhar this and the swearing-in ceremony was delayed (from 8pm),” he said.

Last night, Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau said Upko had left BN’s fold and joined Warisan. 

Abdul Muis, meanwhile, said he and Hamisah had discussed the matter this morning and decided to meet Shafie. 

“When the state and federal government are not in sync, it is hard to get things done. Joining Warisan was for the good of the people,” he said.

Hamisah later said that they had not been coerced into meeting Shafie. – May 11, 2018.