IN SABAH, SHAFIE TIGHTENS HIS GRIP ON POWER – MOVES TO EXTEND GOVERNOR’S TERM: ‘HAVING A FRIENDLY GOVERNOR ON HIS SIDE WILL HELP TO PRE-EMPT ANY MOVE TO TOPPLE HIS STATE GOVT’ – REPORT

THE special Sabah legislative assembly sitting on Wednesday to extend the term of the current Yang di-Pertua Negeri is seen as a move by Shafie Apdal to strengthen his grip on the state, sources said.

They said the chief minister wants to extend Juhar Mahiruddin’s term as he tries to control any fallout from any possible defection from his coalition to the opposition.

Shafie’s critics said the political situation in the state was still volatile, with the likelihood of assemblymen leaving the Warisan-led coalition government still high.

Other members in the pact are DAP, PKR and United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusun Murut Organisation (Upko).

A source told The Malaysian Insight that having a friendly governor on its side would help the incumbent government if any move is made to topple it.

Currently, the Warisan-led government has 44 assemblymen. All it would take is for 15 to jump ship and the state government will fall. Talk of defections in Sabah is also the norm.

A state assembly source confirmed there was a move to table an amendment to the state constitution to allow Juhar to stay in office beyond the two-term limit. Each term is four years.

Juhar’s term ends on January 2.

He was appointed to the post on January 2, 2011, replacing Ahmadshah Abdullah, and was sworn in again for his second term on January 2, 2015.

If the move succeeds, Juhar will not only be the first Yang di-Pertua to serve more than eight years but will enter the record books as the longest serving head of state in Sabah’s history.

“The government plans to amend the (state) constitution and call for a vote on the same day. They will try to squeeze everything during the one-day sitting,” the source said.

On November 22, Shafie said he had called for a one-day special state assembly sitting to amend, among others, the Sabah Land Ordinance to allow the state to emulate Sarawak, which imposes a 5% sales tax on petroleum products, as well as the state constitution.

The move is predicted to run smoothly as Warisan commands 44 reps, including independents, out of 65 assemblymen. A two-thirds majority is needed to amend the state constitution.

Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Jimmy Wong told The Malaysian Insight that there was nothing wrong with seeking an extension, as long as the head of state remained fit and able.

Juhar is 65 years old.

“I think there is nothing wrong. Besides it doesn’t affect the politics and the people of Sabah,” said the Sabah DAP adviser.

Sabah Umno secretary Masidi Manjun said: “We haven’t decided on the matter yet.”

But The Malaysian Insight was informed that Umno state liason chief Hajiji Mohd Noor was opposed to the plan and those close to the Sulaman assemblyman said he will likely oppose it.

Senior political observer Clarence Sinsua said there was no need for the government to amend a “good” constitution, saying it would be hard for the state government to get two-thirds support.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT

✍ Sumber Pautan : ☕ Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH

Kredit kepada pemilik laman asal dan sekira berminat untuk meneruskan bacaan sila klik link atau copy paste ke web server : https://ift.tt/2QkbjpT

(✿◠‿◠)✌ Mukah Pages : Pautan Viral Media Sensasi Tanpa Henti. Memuat-naik beraneka jenis artikel menarik setiap detik tanpa henti dari pelbagai sumber. Selamat membaca dan jangan lupa untuk 👍 Like & 💕 Share di media sosial anda!