Musa (seated middle) with the 33 assemblymen who have pledged to support him.
KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman has told his rival Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to be a ‘gentleman in politics’.
He opined that there was no necessity for the state assembly to be dissolved as he had obtained a simple majority with 33 assemblymen backing him.
“Based on the law and the state constitution it is clear that I have the right to be appointed as the Chief Minister by the Head of State as I have obtained the majority support,” he told reporters in a press conference at his residence in Seri Anggerik today.
The Sungai Sibuga assemblyman claimed that he had submitted statutory declarations (SDs) from the 32 assemblymen to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin this morning.
“The Head of State has the responsibility, under the constitution to give due consideration to decide whether I have enough majority to form a new state government for Sabah,”
“We are not surprised by this act (the call for a snap election). In fact, we had anticipated this,” he said.
Musa further said that he had instructed his lawyers to submit an appeal to the Head of State.
“This is the second time I was betrayed. The first one was when I was already appointed as the Chief Minister but I was dropped,” he added.
He explained that the assemblymen, who previously sided with Shafie, had decided to switch sides because the Warisan-led government was no longer in line with federal government.
“They are also of the opinion that the Warisan-led government is a very weak government. So that’s why they want me to return to power,” he added.
He stressed that he had never enticed the assemblymen with money as claimed by certain quarters.
Nevertheless, Musa said in the event that a snap election does take place, he and his assemblymen are ready to face it.
In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, Musa said that the health of the people should not be gambled just for personal and political reasons.
“There are three more years to go before the next election, why should we dissolve the state assembly?” added Musa.