Sabah’s Dissolution
While the rakyat was in the euphoria following Pakatan’s win under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, it was not long before the country went into another political crisis, and Sabah was also feeling the pinch of it.
Tun Mahathir sudden resignation in late February has ultimately paved the way for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to rise as the new Prime Minister without going through the election process. BN was once again in power.
Additionally, this has also put Sabah in confusion as the state, which was understood to be ‘friendly’ with the government of the day (PH) became an opposition state for the first time since 1994.
It was also understood that during this time, the federal government was ‘eager’ to get Warisan’s support to strengthen PN; however, Shafie has appeared uninterested to join forces with them.
On May 15, 2020, Sabah Government bloc Assemblymen led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau who is also United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation President expressed full support for Shafie to lead the administration in the state amid rumours of a change in the State Government by July this year.
The following months saw the political discussion in Sabah over efforts to overthrow the Warisan-led State Government heats up.
Shafie had met with Warisan MPs and Assemblymen to pledge allegiance to the current leadership. Meanwhile, two assemblymen from UPKO left to support Perikatan.
UPKO has been a partner of PH since GE-14.
The situation intensified when Musa claimed he now has simple majority to form the new State Government though a coalition of several parties in the state.
On July 29, Musa Aman who is now seen as the Federal Government’s ‘representative’ to take over Sabah to strengthen PN, claimed he has the majority to form a new coalition in the state.
Things became more controversial when Warisan-elected representatives were seen on sight. These are Datuk Hamisah Samad (Tanjung Batu), Datuk Osman Jamal (Balung), Datuk Bolkiah Ismail (Pitas), Datuk Masiung Banah (Kuamut), and Datuk Muis Picho (Sebatik).
They are believed to now pledge allegiance to Musa.
However, before anything could take place, Shafie has moved to ‘checkmate’ Musa’s attempt, by dissolving the state assembly, with the narration to give the rakyat the mandate to choose the government.
This view of Shafie reflects the intensity of the political situation in the state and the possibility of Musa having those numbers.
The dissolution of the state assembly has paved the way for a snap election to take place within the next 60 days.