THERE was no attempt to topple the Sabah government, state BN chief Bung Moktar Radin said today.

Last week, the coalition dropped out of the state government, citing breach of agreement with its Gabungan Rakyat Sabah partner and a loss of confidence in Chief Minister Hajiji Mohd Noor.

“Toppling a government and forming a new one is different. Toppling is usually done with ill intent but ours was to rectify the state’s political direction, for the rakyat’s benefit,” he said on the side-lines of the Umno general assembly today.

Bung said BN’s actions were for the benefit of Sabah folk.

“Toppling is destructive, while we were just ensuring the people of Sabah get the place they deserve in the new administration.”

However, five Umno assemblymen remained loyal to Hajiji, ensuring his position as chief minister.

Following BN’s move, Hajiji dropped Bung from the state cabinet, relieving him of his position as deputy chief minister.

Sabah Umno’s Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat) was appointed deputy chief minister III and works minister, while James Ratib (Sugut) was made community development and people’s well-being minister.

Bung said he will taking Shahelmey and Ratib to the party’s disciplinary board.

“We will discuss further action with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.”

Bung said Hajiji’s move was not in line with the prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’s wish for a unity government. – January 13, 2023.