Who will be CM no issue if Gabungan Sabah forms next government

KOTA KINABALU - For Gabungan Sabah (United Sabah Alliance), there is no issue as to who will assume the post of Chief Minister should the alliance be successful in forming the state government.

The presidents of two of its members, Datuk Yong Teck Lee (SAPP) and Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Sabah STAR) said that this is because they would refer to the Sabah Constitution on the appointment of the Chief Minister.

“We have discussed the issue and we refer back to the Constitution, that’s it. I think that is not a problem (because) the Constitution provides procedure (on) who will be the Chief Minister. So at the moment we are being led by the Gabungan Sabah chairman and we all work together as one team. That is more important.

Yong added: “It is clear in the Constitution in the process of appointment of the Chief Minister.

“And in the case of Gabungan Sabah, there is no issue and no problem. All understand the Constitution and where we stand respectively as Gabungan Sabah members.”

Jeffrey and Yong said this when met by reporters after Gabungan Sabah leaders and members paid their respects to those who perished in the ‘Double Six Tragedy of 1976’. They laid wreaths and offered prayers at the Double Six monument in Sembulan yesterday.

Jeffrey and Yong were asked who would be appointed Chief Minister should Gabungan win the election and formed the state government.

Yong in his reply explained that it was stated in the Constitution that the Chief Minister is the the leader who can command the majority’s confidence in the Dewan Negeri, adding, “That will be known on election night.

“It is clear and there have been so many cases at the High Court, Federal Court and the determination of who has the confidence has been determined by our judicial system long time ago and has been established. There will be no doubt as to the appointment of the Chief Minister,” he said.

On how the other opposition parties feel on the matter, Yong said that they too are bound by the same Constitution.

“They may have different ideas (but) we are all bound by the same Constitution and the courts of law concerning the appointment of Chief Minister. We are all bound by that,” he stressed.

Jeffrey added, it should be no issue but some people make it an issue. - BP