Two Umno Members of Parliament in Sabah risk severe legal repercussions, including a staggering RM100 million fine, if they choose to contest in the upcoming Sabah state election under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) banner, according to Umno’s leadership.
Binding Agreements and Hefty Penalties
Umno Secretary-General Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki confirmed that the two MPs, Shahelmey Yahya and Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, are bound by a legal agreement signed with Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) prior to their candidacy in the 15th General Election (GE15).
“If they leave the party to contest under GRS, the contracts they signed will automatically take effect, requiring them to pay RM100 million in damages to the party,” Asyraf told Berita Harian.
He explained that the bond, formalised before a Commissioner for Oaths, was a prerequisite for receiving their parliamentary candidate credentials during GE15. This clause underscores Umno’s resolve to enforce party loyalty amid swirling rumours that the duo might align with GRS, led by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Political Tensions and the Kinabalu Move
The controversy stems from the MPs’ strained relationship with Umno, following their six-year suspension from the party in early 2023. The suspension was a consequence of their opposition to Sabah Umno’s decision to withdraw support from Hajiji and the GRS government, a move that triggered the so-called Kinabalu Move, a political crisis that shook Sabah’s political landscape in January 2023.
Shahelmey, the Putatan MP and Sabah’s Deputy Chief Minister, holds the Tanjung Keramat state seat, while Andi Muhammad Suryady, the Kalabakan MP and Sabah’s Interim Assistant Minister for Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, represents the Tanjung Batu state seat. Both secured their parliamentary seats under the BN ticket in GE15.
Hajiji, who chairs GRS, has publicly stated that the coalition would welcome Shahelmey and Andi Muhammad Suryady as candidates in the state election, intensifying speculation about their potential defection.
High Stakes for Parliamentary Seats
Should the two MPs opt to contest on a GRS ticket, they would be required to vacate their parliamentary seats, as these were won under BN’s banner in GE15.
