Will Shafie Go From Lock Up To Cm With Super Majority

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Politics, it is said, is the art of the impossible. Just a year ago, it would have been difficult to foretell what the stars had in store for Mohd Shafie Apdal
From treading the corridors of power both in Umno and Putrajaya, the Sabah politician found himself being paraded before the public in an orange lock-up outfit
This was when the MACC investigated him over graft allegations. He was never charged and the outcome of the last general election proved that the allegations did not dent his popularity either
Shafie went on to lead the Parti Warisan Sabah-Pakatan Harapan alliance against Sabah BN-Umno up until the May 9 polls
After polling ended, it was clear that Shafie had dealt a bloody nose to Umno. But he was still two seats shy of forming the state government
Two lawmakers from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku Rakyat Sabah (Star) became the kingmakers, choosing to help Sabah BN form the state government on May 11
This new government did not last for 24 hours
Six Sabah BN lawmakers defected, giving Shafie control over 35 seats in the state legislative assembly
Although firmly in power, Shafie received another boost when more Sabah BN lawmakers drifted towards him
At the time of writing, Shafie and his allies control 42 seats in the legislative assembly, effectively granting him a two-thirds majority
The Shafie-administration would have its first opportunity to flex its legislative muscle tomorrow when the special legislative assembly sitting is convened
On the agenda is a bill to amend the state constitution to remove the two-term limit for the governor.With the mass exodus of Sabah Umno lawmakers, state leaders and division leaders today, all eyes are on whether Shafie would have their support as well
While those who quit have pledged their allegiance to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Shafie, it remains to be seen if the nine former state Umno lawmakers would vote in favour of the bill
If they do so, Shafie would have 80 percent support in the legislative assembly - effectively a super majority. - Mkini

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