The Malaysian Insight

AFTER missing Sabah assembly sittings last year, former Sabah Umno liaison chief Musa Aman is expected to make an appearance at the first state sitting of the year tomorrow.

Musa, who was Sabah chief minister for 15 years, was absent from the last state legislative sitting on November 12-15 because of poor health. 

He also skipped the emergency assembly on June 11, where he missed the chance to be sworn in as the Sibuga assemblyman. He was subsequently sworn in on Septemper 5.

Musa is the sole Umno representative in the state legislative assembly, after most of his party colleague left to join peninsula-based Bersatu.

State Assembly Speaker Syed Abbas Syed Ali said Musa has not written to ask to be excused from the sitting.

“Last year, Musa wrote to say he was not able to attend the sitting due to health reasons. He even attached a letter from his doctor,” Syed Abbas told The Malaysian Insight.

“There is nothing from him yet this year. So he must be attending this year.

“Musa risks losing his seat if he fails to turn up for three consecutive sittings.”

Under Article 18(2) of the state constitution, the house can declare an assemblyman’s seat vacant if he is absent from three sittings in a row.

Musa’s political secretary Mohd Joh Wid told The Malaysian Insight his boss is doing well but could not confirm whether he would be at well at present but could not confirm whether he would be attending the sitting tomorrow. 

“Tan Sri is okay. He is doing fine. Don’t know yet when he will return to the DUN (state assembly),” Joh Wid said. 

Musa retained the Sibuga seat with a 11,569-vote majority against rivals Irwanshah Mustapa (PKR), Am Jaffar (Sabah Progressive Party), Mohd Roslan Yussof (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku) and independent Mohd Arshad Adul, in the May general election.

Musa went to ground after his Barisan Nasional and Solidariti  coalition government collapsed with the defection of Umno and Upko reps to Parti Warisan Sabah and Pakatan Harapan.

There were allegations he had fled to London when the new PH government began hauling up former leaders suspected of corruption.

He was also wanted by police for allegedly threatening the Sabah governor Juhar Mahiruddin.  

Musa had filed to challenge the appointment of Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal as the new chief minister of Sabah. 

The court ruled in November that Shafie is the legitimate chief minister.   

Musa denied that he was on the run and returned to Sabah to be sworn in as the Sibuga rep on September 5.
 
He then travelled to the peninsula where he was called in for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He was subsequently charged with 35 counts of graft and 16 counts of money laundering. – April 15, 2019.