Sabah Governor Should Have Met Musa Lawmakers Jeffrey Kitingan

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Sabah Governor Juhar Mahiruddin should have accorded former Chief Minister Musa Aman and 32 assemblypersons, an audience before dissolving the state legislative assembly, said state opposition leader Jeffrey Kitingan
In a statement yesterday, Jeffrey (photo, above) opined that Juhan should emulate Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah Shah in dealing with the political crisis at Putrajaya in March
"He should have accorded the 33 state assemblypersons an audience, interviewed them and satisfy any doubt if any element of duress was involved
"He should have accorded us, the 33 state assemblyperson the same courtesy that the Agong did to the 222 members of Parliament during the Pakatan Harapan power struggle in March this year," he said
Jeffrey also pointed out the statement issued by Juhar's private secretary Abinan Asli, was patently false
He said Juhar, a former lawyer himself, should have known better than to comment on a matter that is now sub judice following the lawsuit initiated by Musa and 32 lawmakers
Yesterday, Abinan said the governor had never received 33 statutory declarations (SDs), which pledged to support Musa as the Perikatan Nasional's choice for the chief minister, before signing the declaration to dissolve the state legislative assembly
Abinan also explained the palace never received a request from Musa to seek an audience with Juhar
Jeffrey, who is also Tambunan state assemblyperson and an SD signatory, then reminded Juhar about his meeting with Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's political secretary Mohd Nardin Awang on July 29
He said during the meeting, Juhar was informed of Musa's readiness to have an audience with the governor to present the SDs
"I suppose they wish that the people of Sabah are so ignorant and stupid that events that led to the dissolution of the state assembly occurred for no valid reason and do not make sense
"Is he so naive that he did not know the reason behind us wanting to seek an audience to present to him the original 33 SDs as requested by him earlier in the morning on July 29?" he said
Jeffrey also pointed out that Juhar said it was too late and suggested Balung state assemblyperson Osman Jamal, the representative of 33 lawmakers, to present the SDs at 9am the next day
On the evening of July 29, Musa called for a presser claiming he had the numbers to take over the state government. The state legislative assembly was dissolved the next day after Shafie obtained consent from Juhar
Jeffrey said they went to the palace the next morning only to find themselves barred from entering
"I suppose this meeting is just a figment of our own imagination
"Is it merely a coincidence that Shafie met Juhar requesting a dissolution minutes before Osman representing the 33 presented the original SDs?" he said. - Mkini

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