Suspended Umno member Shahelmey Yahya is deliberating whether to seek re-election as a Sabah state assemblyman or retain his role as the Putatan MP.
Shahelmey, a minister in Sabah’s caretaker cabinet, acknowledged Umno’s warning of legal action and a RM100 million fine for party members contesting next month’s state election under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) banner.
His suspension from Umno in 2023 stemmed from his refusal to support the party’s failed attempt to oust Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
“I’m still evaluating my political path,” he said in Putatan today, as reported by Sinar Harian. “With nomination day about three weeks away, there’s ample time to decide.”
He emphasized that his decision would prioritize the public’s interests and reflect their mandate.
If Shahelmey contests the state election with GRS, he risks losing his parliamentary seat under Malaysia’s anti-hopping law, having won Tanjung Keramat in 2020 on a Barisan Nasional ticket.
He previously told FMT that his participation in the state election would hinge on seat negotiations within the GRS coalition.
On October 11, Hajiji revealed that Shahelmey and another suspended Umno member, Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, have shown interest in representing GRS or running under its ticket in the upcoming election.
