SABAH Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has announced that he will carry out a cabinet reshuffle in the near future, following yesterday’s attempted coup by Umno, in cahoots with Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) to topple the government.

In a brief two-line statement, Hajiji said that the state government would make the announcement soon.

“There will be a state cabinet reshuffle. Details will be disclosed soon,” said Hajiji.

His statement comes as rumours swirl about the possibility of Sabah Barisan Nasional withdrawing support for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-led state government.

Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin is widely speculated to get the sack in the imminent reshuffle.

Bung is one of the three deputy chief ministers and is also the state works minister.

The portal Free Malaysia Today, quoting a source, reported tourism and culture minister and Umno state assemblyman for Sukau, Jafry Ariffin, would also face the sack over his alleged involvement.

The coup is the latest attempt to depose the elected government in Sabah.

Earlier today Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had said the political situation in Sabah “looks calm”.

“It looks like the situation is calm now and I don’t think there is any turmoil,” he said when responding to reporters’ questions on the latest situation in the state after performing his Friday prayers in Putrajaya.

He said he had not seen any new political developments and he was also just informed that there were some issues.

Anwar said he had asked Hajiji to discuss it with “our friends in Sabah.”

Yesterday’s attempt failed after it was reported that 11 of the 17 Umno state assemblymen would not go along with the coup attempt. 

They reportedly rejected cooperating with Warisan and affirmed their support for Hajiji.

Amid the turmoil yesterday, seven Sabah Umno assemblymen, including Bung’s deputy, Yakub Khan, met with Hajiji last night.

It was unclear what the meeting was about.

Hajiji was also reported to be meeting with Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan later today.

Kitingan is also a deputy chief minister in the state cabinet.

STAR has six assemblymen, including Kitingan. –  January 6, 2023.