The Malaysian Insight

FORMER Sabah chief minister Musa Aman was present at the state assembly sitting today, marking his first attendance since the May 9 general election last year.

Musa had skipped all both assembly sittings last year, citing health reasons.

The Sibuga assemblyman arrived at 9.30am at the state assembly building, just minutes after his arch rival and present Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal turned up.

Musa, who was chief minister for 15 years, was seen with his walking stick entering the assembly building where his opposition colleagues, including Parti Bersatu Sabah’s Joniston Bangkuai (Kiulu) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku’s Tambunan assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan, met him.

State assembly speaker Syed Abbas Syed Ali told The Malaysian Insight that Musa did not seek leave for absence in this year’s sitting.

Under the constitution, Musa must attend the sitting this year as failure to attend three assembly sittings will result in him being forced to vacate his seat.

Yesterday, he failed to be present at the assembly sitting as he was seeking a judicial review on the 16 charges of money-laundering filed against him in Kuala Lumpur.

In the sitting today, Musa jumped quickly into action as state opposition leader, taking over from Jeffrey.

Jeffrey, who held the opposition leader’s post in Musa’s absence, welcome Musa to the house and quipped, “Are you ready to take over?”

Musa, now the sole Umno rep in the Sabah assembly after other state Umno reps defected to join Bersatu, posed several questions to ministers during the House’s question time.

He also questioned Shafie, his rival, on the deportation of illegal immigrants and whether this was being done under the Warisan-led Sabah government.

In reply, Shafie said that his government was facing challenges in deporting undocumented migrants, saying “it was not easy” working with the Philippines and Indonesia on the matter. 

Musa left the house later in a silver Jaguar. – April 16, 2019.