KOTA KINABALU: The five Sabah Umno state assemblymen who refused to help topple chief minister Hajiji Noor said Bung Moktar Radin had the intention of replacing Hajiji as chief minister.

They claimed that after the aborted joint press conference by Sabah BN and Parti Warisan, some in Umno wanted to make Bung Moktar the new chief minister.

“But we did not take part nor support such a move.”

They insisted that there was no good reason at this juncture to change the state government, and had therefore refused to sign the statutory declaration to withdraw their support for Hajiji in favor of Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

They said they would stand firm on their principle even if they were to be sacked by the party.

The five Sabah Umno state assemblyman are Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat), Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Yusof Yacob (Sindumin) and Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk).

“That’s why Shafie and Bung Moktar did not attend last Thursday’s press conference. Because they didn’t have the numbers.”

The five Umno assemblymen also said they would form a new party to continue supporting Gabungan Rakyat Sabah if they are sacked by Sabah Umno.