KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has urged Shahelmey Yahya, the state deputy chief minister III, to vacate his Putatan parliamentary seat if he intends to participate in the state election.
According to Berita Harian, Bung Moktar claimed that the rules set by the Election Commission (EC) render Shahelmy ineligible to defend his state seat due to his suspension by Umno for six years in March last year.
Bung Moktar stated, “There might be a by-election for Putatan and a state seat election.”
He made this comment in reference to Shahelmey’s position in the upcoming state election, should he choose to defend his Tanjung Keramat seat.
During the previous Sabah polls in September 2020, Shahelmey contested under the Barisan Nasional banner.
Bung Moktar expressed confidence that Umno would be able to defend both the Tanjung Keramat state seat and the Putatan parliamentary seat with another candidate, considering Shahelmy’s suspension from the party.
He added, “We have numerous candidates to choose from if there is a by-election for Putatan.”
Shahelmey was suspended by Umno on March 18, 2023, for refusing to align with the party’s stance during an attempt to remove Hajiji early last year.
