THE Sabah legislative assembly passed two bills related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 even as the state leadership crunch remains unresolved.

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor tabled the two bills – Sabah Energy Commission 2023 and Gas Supply Bill 2023 – and both were endorsed by the 44 lawmakers present in the chamber.

The bills were debated for 90 minutes and passed.

The Umno assemblymen as well lawmakers from Parti Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat who have pulled their support for Hajiji were not present.

The bills were tabled after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on December 21 that the Putrajaya had agreed to hand over the gas supply regulatory power in Sabah to the state government and that the matter was agreed upon as part of the federal government’s effort to honour the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Bung Moktar Radin and Parti Warisan Sabah president Mohd Shafie Apdal said they did not object to the bill and gave their assurance that its passage will not be disrupted.

The bill passage came after Bung and Shafie earlier today said they fully support the move to establish a unity government at state level.

Bung and Shafie, in separate statements, said Anwar proposed the formation of a unity government in a meeting with the state’s leaders in Kota Kinabalu last night.

Bung, who is also Sabah deputy chief minister, said a unity government would lower the political temperature and stabilise the situation in the state.

“I also hope that Chief Minister Hajiji Noor can accept with an open heart the recommendations made by the prime minister in order to safeguard the interests and well-being of the people of Sabah,” he said.

On Friday, Bung said Sabah BN was opting out of the state government because it had lost confidence in Hajiji, citing a breach of an agreement between BN and Perikatan Nasional.

Last night, Anwar expressed support for Hajiji to remain as Sabah chief minister for the immediate future, making clear his stand on the matter to reporters in Kota Kinabalu.

Anwar also said he wants the Sabah government to remain strong under Hajiji’s leadership.

“We will give room to the chief minister to hold discussions and find the best formula for the good of Sabah,” he said. – January 10, 2023.