NO big deal. That was Umno’s curt response to the possibility of losing the Sipitang parliamentary seat due to the disappearance of its lawmaker, Yamani Hafez Musa. 

Party secretary-general Annuar Musa’s reply epitomises the once-dominant party’s dire situation after losing power in the 14th general election and being down to just 47 seats. 

“The question of (losing the seat), I think it no big deal,” Annuar told The Malaysian Insight.

He said the party was better off focusing on how to regain power in the next general election, rather than worry about the Sipitang seat.

“From Umno’s perspective, even if we lose the seat, the party goes on as usual… what’s important is we plan for the next general election. For now, it’s ‘game over’,” he said, referring to its chances of taking over Putrajaya.

However, Annuar said he hoped that Hafez, who is believed to be overseas, would return to take his oath by then.

Hafez, the son of former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman, will be stripped of his seat if he fails to take his oath of office by January 15.

According to Article 59 of the federal constitution, members of parliament who fail to take their oath of office six months after the first parliamentary proceeding will lose their seats.

“If possible, we want him to take his oath immediately, but he is not in the country. I am not sure where. Umno doesn’t know where he is now,” Annuar said.

“He has not taken his oath because he is still overseas, he’s not back yet. If he’s in the country, he would have taken his oath.”

Hafez won the Sipitang seat by 852 votes, defeating Parti Warisan Sabah’s Noor Hayaty Mustapha and Parti Harapan Rakyat’s Dayang Aezzy Liman.

After GE14, he reportedly accompanied his father to London on May 17 where Musa underwent  treatment. However, his whereabouts remain unknown since then.

Annuar admitted that there were some Umno members who were still unable to accept that the party was now the opposition.

“Whoever wants to remain in Umno, remain. Whoever wants to crossover, can do so, it’s not a problem… because there are some who want to be in the government.

“Tomorrow if we win, they will ask to return. They don’t want to fight with the party. They want to sit in the government, they cannot accept being opposition.

“We, as politicians, need to be prepared to play different roles, but those who can’t take it and need to sit in the government, go ahead and find the government,” said the Ketereh MP.

Since Umno’s defeat on May 9, six members of parliament from the party have left, including two former cabinet members – Mustafa Mohamed and Anifah Aman. Mustafa joined Bersatu along with Bagan Serai MP Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, who had also left Umno. – December 4, 2018.