SABAH Pakatan Harapan (PH) has reiterated its support for Hajiji Noor as the embattled chief minister clings on to his position after the state Barisan Nasional (BN) chapter withdrew support for his government.

In a joint statement, the seven PH assemblymen said they were against attempts to topple the administration and form a “backdoor” government.

They said they were also opposed to the dissolving the Sabah assembly to make way for state elections, and were agreeable to the formation of a unity government.

“We would like to state that we continue to support current Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

“This is in line with our principle of ensuring political stability in Sabah and not engage in measures like the Sheraton Move.

“We are agreeable to the formation of a unity government in Sabah, just like the one formed at the federal level,” they said.

The seven are: Christina Liew who is Api-Api assemblyman, Fung Ming Poon (Tanjung Papat), Ewon Benedick (Kadamaian), Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang), Jannie Lasimbang (Kepayan), Tan Lee Fatt (Likas) and  Peto Galim (Inanam).

The PH representatives said they were sorry to see the state once again beset by a political crisis that should not have happened at all.

Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin last night said that Hajiji is no longer qualified to hold the post of chief minister under article 6(3) and 6(7) of the Sabah constitution.

“According to the Sabah constitution, the chief minister must be chosen from a party with the majority. He (Hajiji) is without a party, he is with GRS, which is a grand coalition party,” he told the media.

The Sabah assembly has 79 lawmakers, 73 of them elected and six appointed.

With BN’s withdrawal of support, the Sabah government led by Hajiji now has the backing of 41 assemblymen – 29 of them in GRS, seven in Pakatan Harapan, three in Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat, one in Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and an Independent.

Warisan has 19 seats and PAS, one. – January 7, 2023.