Two Prominent Suspended Umno Members to Contest Sabah Election Under GRS
Two prominent suspended Umno members, Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, have announced their intention to contest the upcoming 17th Sabah election under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) banner. Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, currently serving as caretaker deputy chief minister III and state works minister, along with his Putatan MP and Tanjung Keramat assemblyman roles, has joined Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, caretaker assistant industrial development and entrepreneurship minister, Kalabakan MP, and Tanjung Batu assemblyman, in this decision. Their move could potentially trigger the federal anti-hopping law, leading to by-elections for their parliamentary seats. GRS, yet to finalise its candidate list, is in seat distribution talks with Pakatan Harapan (PH). A recent meeting was held between GRS and PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Both men were among several Umno assemblymen who withdrew support from the party in 2023 to back GRS during the putsch to unseat Hajiji as chief minister. GRS aims to focus on seats where it has the strongest chance of winning. Sabah caretaker chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has no objections to their intention. Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy's decision to contest under the GRS banner in the 17th Sabah election could have significant implications, potentially leading to by-elections for their parliamentary seats. Their move comes amidst ongoing seat distribution talks between GRS and Pakatan Harapan, with the election date yet to be finalised.
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