Shahelmey suspended from Umno for six years

SANDAKAN - Putatan MP Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya's Umno membership has been suspended for six years.

The matter was confirmed by Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin on Saturday.

"Shahelmey has been suspended for six years," he told reporters briefly when attending the Kinabatangan Umno division Representative Meeting at the Sandakan Community Hall, here.

The decision was reportedly done due to the Tanjung Keramat Assemblyman announcing support Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's leadership in January.

It was against Bung Moktar's announcement that Sabah Umno-BN members had retracted their support towards Hajiji as Sabah Chief Minister.

The decision caused Sabah politics to again be plunged into turmoil causing a Cabinet reshuffle in which Shahelmey was appointed as the deputy chief minister to replace Bung Moktar, who was dismissed from the Sabah Cabinet line up.

That action caused Shahelmey and three other assemblymen - Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk) as well as Datuk James Ratib (Sugut) - to be given letters to face the Umno Discipline Board.

Bung Moktar spoke regarding the meeting he attended and said 23 Sabah Umno divisions had a simultaneous session with 191 divisions throughout the country.

"Sabah has two divisions that delayed their meeting which were Kota Kinabalu and Beluran due to technical issues. Both divisions will have their meeting shortly after.

"I have received reports from all Sabah divisions that the elections were running smoothly without any major disturbances," he said.