Hajiji Sought My Support At The Height Of Kinabalu Move Claims Shafie

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Warisan president Shafie Apdal has shed new light on the political crisis widely known as the Kinabalu Move, referring to the failed attempt to unseat Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor in 2023.
Shafie claimed that Hajiji had personally approached him for support at the height of tensions between the latter and Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin at the time.
“He (Hajiji) came to my house asking for help. I told him it was difficult for me to assist because his party, Bersatu, was from Kuala Lumpur.
“I said, leave Bersatu first, then come back,” he said during a speech at a party event in Nabawan yesterday.
Although Hajiji eventually left Bersatu, Shafie said the former never returned to seek his backing. Instead, several Warisan assemblypersons began to leave the party.
“He took my YBs. How can we trust someone like that?
“It’s difficult. Forming alliances here and there,” Shafie said in defending his position not to join any coalitions.
‘Ultimate betrayal of Sabahans’
On Aug 14, Shafie told the press that he was not involved in the Kinabalu Move, adding that the problem stemmed from a rift between Hajiji and Bung.
“The Kinabalu Move was not my political move. You should ask them why they were in conflict. We (Warisan) were on the opposition benches all the while,” he told reporters.
Sabah Umno chief Bung Mokhtar Radin (left) and Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji NoorShafie said this in response to Kunak assemblyperson Norazlinah Arif’s comments, who described the episode as the “ultimate betrayal of Sabahans”.
Norazlinah, a former Warisan lawmaker now aligned with Hajiji, had claimed that some Warisan leaders were offered cabinet positions if they backed Bung’s push to topple Hajiji.
The Kinabalu Move began in January 2023 after Sabah BN withdrew its support from Hajiji, citing breach of trust.
Hajiji ultimately survived the crisis with Pakatan Harapan’s support, with several Umno assemblypersons refusing to abandon him. - Mkini

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