BN to take different approach in handling 4 Sabah ex-Umno members

Barisan Nasional (BN) will take different measures against the four former Sabah Umno assemblymen who switched party.

(NST) – The quartet comprises Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk), Hamid Awang (Balung), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), and Datuk James Ratib (Sugud), who are now members of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s component Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.

BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the measures taken against them would be different from how the party handled Rembia state assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis, where legal action would be initiated.

He said Muhammad Jailani had joined Pas since June last year, but only announced it recently.

“He (Muhammad Jailani) must remember that before becoming a candidate for the Melaka state election, he had signed several documents.

“The party’s move to take legal action, which is based on the documents he signed, is the first step.

“But the scenario in Sabah is different, and the way we handle the situation is not how we handled the situation for the Melaka state assemblyman,” he said during a press conference after closing the Sabah BN Convention at SJKC Tiong Hua here.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also​ Umno president, said there are certain aspects the party needs to consider, and the decisions of the party leadership must be respected.

“Currently, we are also sharing power. We see that several Umno assembly members are also serving as deputy ministers. However, the deputy chief minister (Datuk Shahelmey Yahya) and ministers are not from the current leadership.

“Let’s wait until the state election is held. We support the unity government in Putrajaya and maintain the existing state government in Sabah.”

Shahelmey, who is Putatan MP and Tanjung Keramat assemblyman, was suspended as he and few others refused to heed Sabah Umno’s decision to withdraw support to GRS government in January last year.