2023 Sabah political crisis
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| Date | 6 January – 12 February 2023 |
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| Location | Sabah, Malaysia |
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The 2023 Sabah political crisis began on 6 January 2023, when the state government of Sabah led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) collapsed when its coalition party Barisan Nasional (BN) withdrew its support.[1] The Leader of UMNO Sabah, a component party of BN, Bung Moktar Radin, Kinabatangan Member of Parliemnt (MP) and Lamag Assemblyman, cited a lack of confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister of Sabah Hajiji Noor in the withdrawal.[2] On 9 January, both Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi travelled to Kota Kinabalu to meet with Sabah political leaders.[3]
As of 6 February, there are no changes in the status quo regarding the government of Sabah, following the decision of 5 UMNO MLAs who publicly supported Hajiji despite Bung's decision, and reshuffle of the state cabinet on 11 January as a result.[4]
Background
Collapse of BN Sabah
In 2018, after BN's loss at the 2018 Malaysian general election at the federal level to Pakatan Harapan (PH), Sabah-based BN component parties, United Sabah Party (PBS), United Sabah People's Party (PBRS), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and United Pasokomomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO; now PH-backed United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation) have left BN Sabah in response to their loss, leaving only UMNO Sabah and MCA Sabah as component party. This caused Musa Aman lost his majority as Chief Minister in favour of WARISAN's Shafie Apdal.
Hajiji Noor, UMNO Sabah chairman and Sulaman Assemblyman, together with other members, including Ronald Kiandee, Azizah Mohd Dun and Masidi Manjun, have left the party in a mass resignation to joining Sabah chapter of BERSATU, vowing to establish a new local-based independent coalition for all Sabah-based parties. Bung Moktar Radin, sole survived UMNO Sabah member, vows to rebuild the party when he was elected as the new state chairman, replacing the latter.
Formation of GRS and Hajiji's rise
In 2020, in facing of the upcoming state election, then Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin met Hajiji to form Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to topple WARISAN+ government. The decision was agreed, using the formula of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which promotes the unity between the party leaders and the people of the state.
Prior to the election, GRS was formally launched to the public by Muhyiddin and Hajiji, initially organised by BN, PBS and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
In the event, GRS secured the simple majority to form the new government, defeating WARISAN which secure less majority than needed. Hajiji was officially elected as new Chief Minister and takes oath in front of Governor Juhar Mahiruddin in post-election, succeeding Shafie.
Registration of GRS
In 2022, the Registry of Societies (RoS) formally registered GRS as a coalition political party. At the time of its registration, the coalition, consists PBS, SAPP, Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR), the new United Sabah National Organisation (USNO Baru) and formerly BERSATU Sabah, were the latest parties to joining it, all of them were former United Borneo Alliance (UBA) and United Alliance of Sabah (GBS) components.
A second local based coalition party in Sabah, and second in East Malaysia after Sarawak-based GPS, none of the peninsula-based parties were involved in the newly registered GRS. Hajiji Noor later elected as the first registered chairman, assisted by Masidi Manjun, Yong Teck Lee, Pandikar Amin Mulia, Jeffrey Kitingan and Joachim Gunsalam.
Event
Mass resignation of BERSATU Sabah members and its expulsion from GRS
In 2023, in response to PN's defeat in 15th general election, Hajiji announced that he and all members of BERSATU Sabah have resigned from the party, vowing to form a new political party to reclaim the autonomy of Sabah, that ultimately created Direct Members of GRS to allowing independent assemblymans to joining it.
The next day, Ronald was announced as the new state party chairman and subsequently, BERSATU has been expelled from GRS.
Pullover of BN Sabah and Shahelmey's resistance
In response to Hajiji's decision, Bung announced that BN Sabah has been pulled their support against the Chief Minister, claiming that he has breached party hopping prevention law.
Later that day, he met Shafie to discuss about the possible form the new coalition to assure the Senallang Assemblyman returned to the Chief Minister's Office.
Amid the crisis, five UMNO Sabah members, Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat), Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), James Ratib (Sugut) and Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk) still support Hajiji until his term expired and denounces Bung's decision. As of result, in March and April, Shahelmey was suspended for six years by UMNO's Supreme Council for backing Hajiji, and James, Jasnih and Arshad was sacked from the party for party hopping.
On 21 February 2023, Yusof Yacob, along with other 8 MLAs, including James, Jasnih and Arshad, supporting Hajiji, and at the same time, along with another UMNO defector, Hamid Awang (Balung), and former WARISAN Assemblymans, Mohammad Mohamarin (Banggi), Chong Chen Bin (Tanjong Kapor) and Norazlinah Arif (Kunak), they joined PGRS.[5]
Hajiji's attempted ouster and Bung Mokhtar's expulsion from cabinet
On 5 January 2023, Bung Mokhtar and Shafie launched an attempt to oust Hajiji and reinstall Shafie as Chief Minister.
These attempts were foiled by members of the GRS. As of result, Bung Mokhtar was fired from his post over his allegiance to oust Hajiji and replaced with Shahelmey Yahya, Putatan MP.
Takeover of Gagasan Rakyat
In 5 February, Hajiji Noor, among with other members of former BERSATU Sabah, had takover of little known Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN) from its previous leader, Stephen Jacob Jimbangan. In 9 December 2022, the party had already accepted as its member prior to first Hajiji cabinet's collapse and already accepted as GRS coalition member. Since 14 April 2023, GRS coalition secured their seats with 41 State legislative assembly fixed seats.
Response
Federal level
The day after the failed coup, prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi flown to Sabah to meet Hajiji about the crisis.
They gave him opinion, need to new election or reshuffling cabinet, in which he choose the latter.
State level
In the aftermath of the crisis, Hajiji make a major decision, including swap Bung Mokhtar for Minister of Works portfolio with Shahelmey and at the same time, fires Kinabatangan MP from his government.
Party level
UMNO and BN Sabah, led by Bung, on January announced that they had pullover their support against Sulaman assemblyman for his responsible quit BERSATU. Later, Social Democratic Harmony Party, led by Peter Anthony, make the same decision and back supporting him shortly afterwards.
A month later, Gagasan Rakyat, a little-known 2013 political party in Sabah, had been take over by Hajiji along with others as BERSATU Sabah's replacement, citing its ability as the broader and wider party for all Sabahans to reduce the dependents of Malaya-based parties, such as UMNO, meanwhile at the same time retaining their survival to ensure all rights and autonomy returned to Sabah as signed in Malaysia Agreement.
On 12 February 2023, Barisan Nasional Secretary General, Zambry Abd. Kadir said Barisan Nasional decided to support the Sabah Government led by Hajiji Noor as Sabah Chief Minister.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Kamil, Asyraf (9 January 2023). "CNA Explains: What the Sabah political impasse means for federal politics". CNA. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "New political crisis in Malaysia as Sabah government falls after Umno exits". South China Morning Post. 7 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Fong, Durie Rainer; Vanar, Muguntan; Lee, Stephanie (9 January 2023). "Anwar arrives in KK to resolve Sabah's political crisis". The Star. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Sabah chief minister Hajiji reshuffles Cabinet, drops UMNO state chief Bung Moktar". CNA. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ Axtius, Mirlen (21 February 2023). "Lima ADUN Sabah keluar UMNO, umum sertai Gagasan Rakyat dipimpin Hajiji". Astroawani. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "BN sokong Hajiji sebagai Ketua Menteri". 12 February 2023.