Daniel John Jambun
KOTA KINABALU (June 15): Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal had the majority support and was not appointed through the backdoor after the state election in 2018.
Shafie was sworn in after it was clear that he commanded majority support in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly. The six UPKO assemblymen who switched sides broke no law. They acted in good conscience and aligned with the reform movement that swept Malaysia after the 14th General Election.
President of Borneo’s Plight In Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) and Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS), Daniel John Jambun, pointed this out when responding to the opinion piece titled “Let’s Not Rewrite History: The Real Backdoor Chief Minister Was Shafie Apdal” authored by Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence Bongkos Malakun, a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council “While the writer attempts to posture as a constitutional purist, his narrative is riddled with distortion, selective amnesia, and a desperate attempt to whitewash the true political betrayal that unfolded under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS),” said Daniel in a statement on Sunday.
He said the real constitutional crisis happened when two Chief Ministers were sworn in within 48 hours — a crisis triggered not by Shafie, but by the premature swearing-in of Musa Aman without verified majority support.
“Musa himself challenged Shafie’s appointment in court. But midway through the proceedings, Musa withdrew the case — because he realised he could not prove he held majority support. If his position was legally and morally sound, why back down?
“In a parliamentary democracy, it is the support of the majority of elected representatives — not who is sworn in first — that determines the legitimacy of government. (USNO vs PBS 1985 applies.)”
Daniel also said that GRS did not contest the 2020 state election as a formal coalition. There was no GRS logo. The parties contested under separate banners — Perikatan Nasional, Barisan Nasional and others — without a common manifesto or electoral mandate.
“The so-called GRS government was only formed after the election, through a series of political defections and federally orchestrated deals. That is the very definition of a backdoor government.
“In contrast, Warisan Plus contested as a clear coalition, with a unified manifesto, and won the most seats as a single bloc. But the people’s mandate was overturned — not at the ballot box, but in hotel rooms and elite negotiations backed by external interference.
“Before Clarence Malakun points fingers, he should reflect on the coalition he now defends — one born not of the people’s mandate, but of political manipulation and opportunism,” he said.
Daniel said the accusation that Shafie’s administration was dominated by “Semporna loyalists” is nothing more than racial dog-whistling and baseless slander.
“Warisan’s government was inclusive and reflective of Sabah’s rich ethnic and regional diversity — from Penampang to Kota Belud, from Tenom to Kudat.
“Ironically, the current GRS government is far more centralised, filled with recycled Barisan elites, and dependent on federal-linked proxies and political appointments. Where is the meritocracy they claim to uphold?” he asked.
Daniel also said the claim that Warisan sabotaged the Telibong 2 and Sandakan water projects is false. These projects were paused for due diligence due to inflated costs, procurement irregularities, and governance concerns.
“The real failure lies in GRS’s inability to resolve Sabah’s worsening water crisis despite receiving billions in allocations. The people are suffering even more today — and this government must take responsibility,” he said.
On the accusations linking Warisan to “Project IC 2.0”, Daniel said they are recycled political slander.
“If there was any genuine wrongdoing, why has the GRS government — after nearly four years in power — failed to take legal action or produce credible evidence?
“In truth, the influx of undocumented immigrants and stateless individuals long predates Warisan’s administration. For instance:
In 2014, under Barisan Nasional’s rule, official estimates already placed the number of undocumented foreigners in Sabah at over 800,000.
“The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah revealed the existence of syndicates and systemic failures tied to illegal identity documentation.
During RCI proceedings, Dr Chong Eng Leong publicly named a senior political figure as the alleged ‘chairman of Project IC.’ This was stated under oath and recorded as part of the official inquiry.
“To this day, the individual named has never sued Dr Chong for defamation — despite the seriousness and publicity of the allegation. The public must ask:
“If the accusation was false, why no legal action? If it was true, why no investigation?
This deafening silence is not just suspicious — it is a betrayal of public trust,” he said.
“According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), in 2020 there were 810,400 non-Malaysian citizens in Sabah. By 2024, that figure rose to 1,043,400. This only shows GRS is clearly pro PTI.
Even more alarming, Peer Mohd Kadir, who admitted before the RCI that he originated from India and obtained his IC through dubious means, was later appointed to the Board of Sawit Kinabalu and awarded the ADK honorific. Three years ago, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor promised to look into the matter — nothing has been done.
“Furthermore, in response to questions in the State Assembly, Datuk Abidin Madingkir himself admitted that no ICs were issued by the Sabah government, as this falls under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry — not Warisan,” he said, adding Warisan inherited a decades-old mess. It did not create it.
Daniel also said Shafie upheld democratic integrity. After his government was brought down through defections, he returned to the rakyat and sought a fresh mandate — a principled and courageous act.
In contrast, GRS has evaded electoral accountability. It survives on elite appointments, state-funded publicity stunts, and politically motivated award ceremonies — not legitimate performance.
“It is deeply ironic that Clarence Malakun — a recycled political appointee — accuses Warisan of populism, when the government he now defends came to power through betrayal, elite backroom deals, and federal favouritism.
“If we are serious about defending democracy in Sabah, we must return power to the people — not rewrite history to protect today’s incumbents.
“Let the people decide. But let them decide based on facts — not fabricated narratives.
The truth is this: Shafie Apdal held a legitimate mandate in 2018. GRS was born through political betrayal — not the ballot box.
“No amount of awards or media spin can cover up four years of failure, division and regression,” said Daniel.
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