KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman and son Yamani Hafez have until September and January next year respectively to take their oaths as assemblyman and Member of Parliament.
The father and son who won Sungai Sibuga state seat and Sipitang parliamentary seat respectively in the 14th general election went ‘missing’ until now and have yet to be sworn in at the state legislative assembly and parliament.
This would mean Musa and Yamani’s respective seats could be declared vacant and by-elections must be held if both fail to take their oaths with the time allowed.
Musa has 90 days since the first Sabah sitting on June 11 to be sworn in, which means his opportunity ends next month.
Based on the 90 day estimate, the deadline is on Sept 8 or 9.
Musa needs to attend the upcoming state assembly sitting scheduled to start on Aug 13, but Sabah deputy Speaker Datuk George Ginibun has already clarified that the Speaker cannot declare the seat vacant even if the ex-CM is not present in the upcoming session.
They need to adhere to the 90-day rule, he stressed.
Musa was reportedly in the United Kingdom to undergo medical treatment and has not returned to Sabah since May. He was also wanted by police to facilitate a criminal intimidation case filed by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.
Yamani who was reportedly accompanying his father has six months from July 16 to take the oath.
This has been explained by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong who is in charge of law that Members of Parliament who did not get sworn in on July 16, will lose their eligibility in six months.
The Dewan Rakyat reportedly did not receive any notification letter from Yamani on why he was not able to be present during the swearing in ceremony.
He however can take the oath at the second Dewan Rakyat sitting which is scheduled on Oct 15, to run for 30 days.
