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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright January 2023
In Sabah politics, Bung Mokhtar is left out in the cold and stripped off his post as Deputy Chief Minister. His colleague in Sabah UMNO takes over as DCM without much regard for him as Chief of the party in the state.
In a week of a would-be-coup that misfired, where Hajiji's position as CM was jointly threatened by UMNO and Warisan, the man alleged by Bung as "partyless" breezes through the crisis unscathed.
Hajiji has 44 State Assemblymen behind him, some of whom Bung claimed belonged to UMNO.
On the other hand, UMNO, who once is part of the government, will now occupy the Opposition seats having failed to get Hajiji to form a unity government as mooted by Anwar and the UMNO President Zahid Hamidi.
Although Anwar said he gave Hajiji his blessings for a unity government to be led by the latter, Hajiji formed his new Cabinet and sworn them in at the Governor's Istana. Business goes back to normal in the state. The crisis is like a storm in a teacup, averted, and his detractors sidelined.
Bung Mokhtar pledges to carry forward his struggled saying the "game is on", vowing to report the renegades to party headquarters and hopefully discipline them.
Bung must have been in PWTC on Wednesday, listening to the President of UMNO who vows he would take action against "traitors" in the party. We do not know whether that term applies to UMNO assemblymen who are with Hajiji in the state government of Sabah. But we clearly see that UMNO President appears inconsistent in his action over issues on federal MPs and state Assemblymen.
At federal level, Zahid has threatened to drop MPs who were reluctant to support Anwar's government. But in Sabah it is fine for UMNO Assemblymen going against the State Chief, Bung Mokhtar, and instead sided with Hajiji. This is one of those small things that will be overblown when it comes to the UMNO's General Assembly.
Sabah has one of the largest contingent attending UMNO's General Assembly. Bung is not likely to forget that he lost his credibility in the eyes of party members and we do expect fireworks. The Sabah UMNO members are not likely to forget that Zahid went along with Anwar's decision for a unity government.
Hajiji's ability is obvious when it comes to asserting his autonomy in administering his own state. The federal guys may suggest but the final decision rests with the state. When Anwar and Zahid left after a meeting with Hajiji, they said it was up to the state as to how they solve the attempted coup.
For Bung Mokhtar who will be in the Opposition in Sabah State Assembly, he will continue to make life difficult for his nemeses.
In statecraft, Hajiji won hands down and has remained cool throughout the week-long crisis, going about asserting his autonomy with ease.
Where popularity is concerned Hajiji reigns supreme.
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