Barisan Nasional Tanjung Keramat candidate, Shahelmey Yahya — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KOTA KINABALU: After he got news of his six-year suspension from Umno, Putatan MP Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (pic) said he was not surprised by the move.
The Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III said, however, he has not received any official word on the matter from the party.
He added that he had been busy with work and had had no time to check the news or messages coming in.
“But I’ve been expecting this,” said Shahelmey, who is also Tanjung Keramat assemblyman, when contacted yesterday.
He questioned Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin for issuing a statement on the suspension despite no official statement being released by the party’s supreme council.
Shahelmey said Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Jafry Ariffin had also pointed out that the decision was not yet official and that it was only a recommendation from the Umno disciplinary committee.
“But I accept it with an open heart. And I hope the statement (on the suspension) made by Bung Moktar will be considered official,” he added.
Asked on his next move, Shahelmey briefly said: “On that one, I will inform you all later about it.”
Earlier yesterday, Bung Moktar told reporters in Sandakan that Shahelmey’s Umno membership has been suspended for six years.
The Kinabatangan MP said this suspension came after Shahelmey’s refusal to support the state Umno’s decision to withdraw its support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in January.
Shahelmey was among four Sabah Umno assemblymen issued a show-cause letter earlier for reneging on the party’s decision in the political crisis.
He has answered to the Umno disciplinary committee on the matter.
The three others were Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit) and Datuk Hamid Awang (Balung), but they have since left Umno to join Hajiji’s Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.
On March 2, Shahelmey said he was leaving it to the Umno supreme council to decide on his position in the party.
