THE status of two state leaders - Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy - will be decided when the time comes, said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman and Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah President Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said both have expressed intention to contest under the GRS ticket in the coming 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17).
“That’s their intention and I have no objection since one is a minister and the other is a young leader,” he said.
Shahelmey and Andi were Umno members who switched support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition after Umno’s attempt to topple the State Government through the Langkah Kinabalu move failed.
Shahelmey, who serves as Deputy Chief Minister III and State Works Minister as well as Putatan MP and Tanjung Keramat Assemblyman, and Andi, the Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, Kalabakan MP and Tanjung Batu assemblyman, were later suspended from Umno.
Both leaders have remained loyal to Hajiji and are now aligned with GRS. However, their positions remain sensitive — contesting under a GRS ticket could trigger the anti-hopping law, which may cost them their parliamentary seats.
Commenting on seat negotiations between GRS and Pakatan Harapan (PH), Hajiji said discussions have been held with PH Secretary-General Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail recently.
“We have discussed with PH, and as of now, we are in the process of finalising the seat distribution between GRS and PH,” he said.
When asked about claims that PH is seeking more than 20 seats, Hajiji said such demands are normal in any political alliance.
“It’s common for coalition partners to ask for more seats, but we must be practical. We will focus on constituencies where we have a higher chance of winning so that our overall chances in the election are stronger,” he explained.
Asked whether “practical” meant that the number of seats allocated might be fewer than requested, Hajiji smiled and replied, “I’ll answer that later.”