YB glad Shafie failed in comeback via coup: Five Warisan leaders assured of Cabinet posts if coup succeeded
Published on: Wed, Aug 13, 2025 Text Size: Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif says Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor is a fair and more accessible leader who does not place reliance on rhetoric. Kota Kinabalu: Kunak Assemblywoman Norazlinah Arif is grateful the attempted coup in Sabah on January 2023 failed due to a lack of support for Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal as the next chief minister. 'Many assemblymen, mainly from BN and PH, were also in favour of retaining the current administration (under Hajiji). 'For me, that was a sign that we were betrayed by a party that was supposedly championing the people's rights,' she said, recalling the incident that came to be known as 'the Kinabalu Move.' It was aimed at ousting Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister and was the ultimate betrayal of Sabahans. She said she and several others were informed that four or five Warisan leaders would be named to the State Cabinet if they backed the Bung-led coup. Following its failure, Norazlinah and several other Warisan assemblymen threw their support behind Hajiji. Norazlinah was with Warisan in 2023 when the party, led by President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, plotted with Sabah Umno to replace the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government. The two-term assemblywoman said Warisan members were hoping that the memorandum of understanding at the federal level that was struck earlier between the party, GRS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan on Dec 16, 2022 would benefit the people. The intention was to back the newly established unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, she added. 'Our hope at the time was that the leaders of the respective parties and coalitions would unite to prioritise the rakyat above their personal interests or that of the party. 'Unfortunately, the opposite happened,' she said, referring to the failed 'coup' led by Sabah Umno. In January that year, Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, the Sabah Umno chief, announced that the party was withdrawing its support for Hajiji. However, six Umno assemblymen pledged continued support for Hajiji, foiling Bung's plans which had the backing of Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat. The GRS assemblymen pledged their undivided support for Hajiji, who assumed the top post in September 2020 following a state election. Bung was subsequently dropped as the state's deputy chief minister. Norazlinah said there was nothing altruistic about the Kinabalu Move. Hajiji has treated us well The Kinabalu Move was the straw that broke the camel's back for Norazlinah. On Feb 6, 2023, she left Warisan, a party she had been with since its founding in 2016. She expressed no regrets for her decision, especially after aligning with Hajiji, whom she praised for addressing the people's issues through action rather than rhetoric. 'Hajiji treats all assemblymen fairly, myself included, despite the fact that I only recently joined GRS,' she said, adding that the chief minister was also more accessible. According to Norazalinah, there is talk of Warisan joining forces with BN for the coming state election, despite Shafie previously stating that the party intends to contest all 73 seats on its own. She said such talk contradicted Warisan's previous stance on an alliance with BN. 'When we first joined the party, we were indoctrinated to think that our mission was to topple BN. 'Their (Warisan's) ego is forcing them to forgo that very principle — all because they are power hungry.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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