DEPUTY Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believes there is a formula to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Sabah.   

Although he did not go into details, the Umno president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman said it would involve a rational consideration of the “wishlists” of the parties involved in the crisis.  

The Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman said the matter would be discussed in a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor soon.  

“Although it (crisis) looks damaging, I am confident there is a formula that we will bring to Kota Kinabalu, and I think a ceasefire is warranted now without any more statements coming from any party on the matter.  

“The people should not be burdened should there be a hung parliament or legal issues concerning the state constitution,” he told reporters today.  

Zahid wants the political stability currently enjoyed at the national level to also be reflected in the states, Sabah included, and urged all parties not to be vindictive in coming to a solution. 

On Friday, state BN and Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin announced Sabah BN’s decision to withdraw its support for the Sabah government.  

Bung said this was decided at a party meeting in Kota Kinabalu on Friday night because of a loss in confidence in Hajiji as chief minister, in addition to a breach of an agreement between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN). 

He said BN and PN implemented an agreement to form the state government following the Sabah state elections in 2020, but Hajiji and other leaders of Sabah Bersatu, which is a component of PN, left the party, causing the state government to lose its legitimacy. 

Yesterday, Anwar announced that he would hold a meeting with Sabah leaders to discuss the state’s political issues as soon as he returned from his official visit to Indonesia. – Bernama, January 8, 2023.