MOHD Shafie Apdal has apologised to all Sabahans for holding the state election during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“I am aware we are holding elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic. And I apologise to Sabahans for facing an election that has caused us to campaign and come in touch with voters,” said the Warisan president in a special message on his Facebook page tonight. 

“Because of this election, we all face a greater risk of contracting Covid-19.” 

The Senallang incumbent said the Sabah election was caused by the political turmoil that began in Malaysia in February. 

“As a result of the political turmoil at the national level, the same people wanted to seize power here too. 

“Under such circumstances, we were forced to dissolve the state assembly and hold fresh elections so that voters – not those who want to seize power for themselves – can decide who is the government,” said Shafie.

He said voters should use the election to elect honourable assemblymen who would form an honest government.

“Please do your responsibility to vote and choose the right people to lead the state. Please go out to vote on Saturday so that we can get a strong and stable government that protects the interest of Sabah for all races,” said the Semporna MP. 

The country faced political upheaval in February after Bersatu quit the Pakatan Harapan coalition, causing the government to fall after just 22 months in government.

Following that, the new Perikatan Nasional government, led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, took over other PH states such as Johor, Malacca, Perak and Kedah through crossovers from their assemblymen.

In July, former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman attempted to do the same in Sabah by getting more than a dozen to defect. 

The attempt, however, failed after Sabah Governor Juhar Mahiruddin agreed to Shafie’s request to dissolve the state assembly for fresh polls. 

Some 1.09 million Sabahans will go to the polls on Saturday to pick a new government. – September 24, 2020.