New Sabah CM Shafie starts work (Updated)

KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal arrived at the Sabah State Administrative Centre (PPNS) here to begin work as the new chief minister of Sabah.
Mohd Shafie, 60, clocked in at 10.51am and was greeted by UPKO acting president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau as well as two UPKO assemblymen, Ewon Benedict (Kadamaian) and Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan).
Several BN assemblymen who are said to have crossed over to Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) such as Tanjong Batu assemblyman Datuk Hamisa Samat; Sebatik assemblyman Datuk Abdul Muis Picho and Kemabong assemblyman Jamawi Jaafar were also present.
The new chief minister was also greeted upon arrival by Sabah State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman.
PPNS houses the Sabah chief minister's office and was closely guarded by security personnel.
Mohd Shafie, who is Warisan president, officially took his oath of office, at the Istana Negri here last Saturday.
In the 14th General Election (GE14) last Wednesday, Warisan won 21 state seats while its Pakatan Harapan (PH) allies, DAP garnered six seats and PKR two seats.
However, the number of state seats obtained by Warisan and its political allies, numbering 29 seats, did not have a simple majority to enable the coalition to form the state government.
Warisan was able to form the government based on a simple majority of 35 seats after six BN assemblymen crossed over to Warisan later.
Meanwhile, Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman was informed by the state palace this morning that he was no longer the chief minister.
Palace officials arrived at Musa's house in Luyang at around 11.10am and waited at the gate for some 15 minutes to hand over the letter.
The notice served was in effect from Saturday.
Musa was sworn in as Sabah chief minister on Thursday after Sabah BN won a simple majority with two seats from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).
However, two days later, Shafie became Sabah's 15th chief minister.
The state BN chief lost the support of six assemblymen who defected to Shafie's Parti Warisan Sabah, paving the way for Shafie to take over. — Bernama