KOTA KINABALU: Tun Juhar Mahiruddin is staying on as the Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri for another two years, bringing about political stability after much speculation and controversy.
It had been speculated earlier that several politicians, including former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, were lobbying for the position.
However, Juhar’s appointment for a fourth term – albeit for a shortened period of two years instead of the conventional four – has put an end to the polemics, said political observers.
“The reappointment of Juhar is very much less controversial,” said political analyst Tony Paridi Bagang.
Bagang, a political science lecturer with Sabah UiTM campus, said people were most likely to give credit to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for the decision to retain Juhar.
Besides Musa, the other names mentioned for the job were former Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and even former chief minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, a non-Muslim.
“Juhar will be seen as neutral and provide the checks and balances for the GRS-led state government that realigned itself with the unity government at the federal level,” Bagang added.
He believes Hajiji wanted to ensure a cordial relationship with the Federal Government.
“It looks like Hajiji does not want to rock the boat.
“It could also be seen as an approach to diminish speculation that Musa will be the next governor,” Bagang said when asked to speculate why Musa was not picked.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah political analyst Dr Romzi Ationg agreed that Juhar’s reappointment would ensure political stability.
“Juhar’s reappointment ends debates and disagreements on who should be governor. This will contribute to Sabah’s political stability,” he said, referring to names mentioned as potential governor.
Juhar first became Sabah’s 10th Governor on Jan 1, 2011, and his current term ends on Dec 31.
Yesterday, he received the instrument of appointment from the King for a fourth term effective Jan 1, 2023.
Juhar will take his oath of office as Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri at Istana Negeri here on Jan 2 before a High Court judge.
A senior state Cabinet minister said Juhar was a non-controversial figure who did not meddle in politics and the daily workings of the government.
“He does his work and does not interfere with politicians,” he said.
He explained that some of the names suggested to replace Juhar were seen as still being active in politics or at least having their shadow loom large over Sabah’s political landscape.
Some within the GRS-Barisan Nasional coalition government had been keen to have Juhar replaced because he had removed Musa as chief minister hardly 36 hours after swearing him in following the 2018 general election.
Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal was then sworn in.
Musa took it to court but lost the legal challenges right up to the Federal Court.
In July 2020, Musa attempted to take back the state government, marshalling support from assemblymen.
Juhar, however, agreed to dissolve the state assembly on Shafie’s request. The move then triggered a snap state election in September 2020 that led to GRS forming the government.
GRS was then a loose coalition of 10 parties led by Hajiji (then Sabah Bersatu chairman) and Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
Musa was not picked to defend his Sungai Sibuga state seat but he was touted as a frontrunner for the Sabah governor’s position when Juhar’s term ends.
