SABAH Umno and Star reps are set to boycott a special assembly sitting tomorrow on the grounds that it does not follow procedure.

The sitting is for assemblymen to take their oath of office, and to pass a motion of confidence on Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal’s leadership.

In a statement today, the group of 20 reps said the notice on the sitting dispenses with the rule that 21 days’ notice is needed to convene an assembly.

They said the rule can be dispensed with only if the head of state gives his approval, and it must also be an emergency.

The statement was signed by state Umno leader Hajiji Noor and Star president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

Both men were deputy chief ministers in the Musa Aman cabinet that was sworn in on May 10.

“Even then (when the rule is dispensed with), it is mandatory for the longest-possible notice to be given,” said the statement.

“In the present notice, there are only six clear days, and there is no event of an emergency.”

It said furthermore, the Pakatan Harapan-Parti Warisan Sabah-Upko government could only be summoned to meet 120 days from the date of the dissolution of the assembly, as stipulated under Article 21(4) of the state constitution.

The state assembly was dissolved by then chief minister Musa on April 7, hence, the assembly should convene on August 6.

“We also view the emergency sitting as a contemptuous attempt to derail the court proceedings filed by Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Musa on May 17.

“The session tomorrow will create a false legitimacy of an unlawful chief minister in Warisan president Shafie.”

Sabah’s chief minister crisis unfolded after Shafie was sworn in days after Musa was.

The 14th general election saw a hung state assembly, when the state BN and PH-Warisan obtained 29 seats each. This put Star, which won two seats, in the role of kingmaker.

Dr Jeffrey offered the seats to the state BN in a deal to form Gabungan Bersatu Sabah. This gave the coalition a simple majority with 31 seats, and Musa was sworn in as chief minister.

However, Umno and Upko assemblymen then joined PH-Warisan, giving the pact 35 seats.

Shafie was sworn in on May 12, and a letter stating that Musa’s appointment has been cancelled was handed by palace officials on May 14.

Musa has since gone missing from Sabah. He was last seen at the airport, leaving for Kuala Lumpur on board a Malindo flight, on May 14.

State BN components PBRS, PBS and LDP have also left the coalition, leaving only Umno, MCA and Gerakan. These local parties remain unaligned with any coalition to date.

The statement said any laws and motions passed during the sitting would be null and void.

“To prevent Sabah from descending into a banana republic, we humbly call on Shafie and his purported cabinet to abide by the rule of law and provisions of the Sabah constitution.  

“They should step aside and allow Musa and his cabinet to attend to their duties and responsibilities as the lawful Sabah government.”

It added that Shafie should be patient and wait his turn to table a motion of confidence on Musa in a “properly convened” assembly on August 6, should he command the majority. – June 10, 2018.