SABAH Bersatu chief Hajiji Mohd Noor announced today he will be sworn in as the state’s new chief minister tomorrow to lead the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government which won the elections on Saturday.

Hajiji said this at a press conference with Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin.

“This is the collective decision of all parties concerned,” said the 71-year-old Hajiji.

Bung Mokhtar said it was time to move on from the stalemate over who would be CM towards restoring the people’s confidence in the state government.

GRS allies Bersatu and Umno had been deadlocked over the CM candidate, with both parties vying for the post.

GRS is a loose pact comprising Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional, Umno-led BN, and PBS. It won 38 seats to Warisan Plus’ 32 to command a wafer-thin majority.

The three Independents who won the remaining seats are now reported to be backing GRS.

Umno had claimed the CM’s post on the grounds it won the most seats in Saturday’s state elections.  

PN won 17 seats, BN (14) and PBS (7). Bersatu won 11 of PN’s 17 seats. STAR won the other six.

Umno won all 14 of BN’s seats.

Mohd Shafie Apdal’s Warisan won 23 seats to become the party with the most elected reps. Warisan Plus’ other nine seats were won by its allies.

The delay in naming the chief minister has given rise to talk that Warisan is trying to convince reps from the other side, especially from PBS, to switch loyalties so it would have the numbers to form the government. – September 28, 2020.