Speaking to the media after lodging the complaint, Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia (G57) pro tem chairman Zulkarnain Mahdar said he was concerned after hearing news that the Sabah constitution might be amended to allow Juhar Mahiruddin to occupy the seat for a longer period of time.
“We received this information through an inside source,” he said.
“We hope it is not true, and if the Sabah government has really planned this, we hope they will cancel their plan.”
Zulkarnain said he was concerned that the plan might be interpreted as a “reward” for Juhar for his role in appointing two chief ministers within three days in May, and for allegedly persuading several assemblymen to give their support to Warisan president Shafie Apdal.
He claimed Juhar purposely delayed the swearing-in ceremony for former chief minister Musa Aman despite the latter having the support of 31 assemblymen.
“We are concerned that the attempt to extend Juhar’s tenure is to reward him for his part in making sure Shafie is made chief minister,” he said.
Zulkarnain said while he did not mind Juhar being beholden to any particular political party, as a representative of the people of Sabah, the head of state should not be too obvious in his political preferences.
In the past, he said, Sabah had heads of state who were apolitical such as Ahmadshad Abdullah, who served as governor from 2003 to 2010. He said the state government should emulate this if it is serious about combatting corruption like the federal government.
He added that there were many others who were qualified to take over the post, including retired public servants.
“Juhar must relinquish the post because his term is up. Why the need to extend it?
“I don’t buy it when people say it is for political stability. Sabah is stable now, it is peaceful. Appointing someone else to the post will not destabilise the state.”
Zulkarnain Mahdar shows the notice of meeting for the special sitting on Thursday.
On the other hand, he said, extending the governor’s term to more than the two current terms would convey the message that “something is not quite right”.
He said this was especially given that Juhar had done a lot to ensure Shafie was made chief minister, including lodging a police report against Musa.
“Corruption is not only in giving and receiving money, it is also for positions. That is why we lodged this complaint with the MACC so the agency can open an investigation paper on the matter.”
The Sabah legislative assembly will hold a special sitting on Thursday, which Shafie has said is aimed at amending the Sabah constitution including land bills.
However, he did not mention or deny rumours that the sitting will be to extend Juhar’s tenure beyond two terms.
Juhar’s tenure will end on Dec 31 this year. He has served as Sabah governor since Jan 1, 2011.
By Tracy Patrick and Ho Kit Yen
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