KOTA KINABALU: The decision of the 15 Bersatu assemblymen to leave the party and become members of GRS directly does not affect the position of Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister, claimed constitutional and public lawyer Tengku Datuk Fuad Tengku Ahmad.
"This is because the GRS-BN coalition remains intact with 46 members of the Assembly (Aduns) in addition to the confidence and supply commitment of the seven Pakatan Harapan (PH) Aduns to support Hajiji as Chief Minister," he said in a statement, Sunday.
"It is also understood that KDM (three Aduns) and one Independent stand in firm support of the GRS-BN government.
"Based on these numbers, Hajiji clearly has the support of 57 Aduns – a majority in the 79-member Assembly and thus continues to enjoy the confidence of the Assembly in accordance with Article 6(3) of the Sabah Constitution."
In reply to Warisan deputy president Datuk Darrell Leiking's recent statement, Fuad said, the four GRS MPs will not lose their seats as a result of leaving Bersatu.
"This is because the four MPs contested as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidates in GE15 and not as Perikatan Nasional (PN) or Bersatu candidates.
"Therefore, there is no breach of Article 49A of the Federal Constitution since the four MPs were elected under GRS," he said.
