Shafie thanks his supporters

 

Keep calm and carry on: Shafie waving to supporters at his home in Likas. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

KOTA KINABALU: An overcast sky loomed over Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s residence a day before the scheduled swearing-in ceremony at the Istana Negeri.

Assemblymen were seen going in and out of the residence at Yayasan Sabah, where a high-level meeting was believed to have taken place yesterday.

The mood was sombre among party supporters as they lingered inside the house compound and mixed with journalists gathering around.

Shafie stayed inside the residence most the time, but came out at about 4.40pm to thank supporters.

He also avoided any questions about the possibility of him seeking an audience with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

“Thank you. Thank you very much,” was all he said when asked if he was going to seek an audience with Tun Juhar.

“We will serve the people,” he responded when asked what his next plan was.

He gave no indication whether Warisan Plus had conceded defeat in the polls.

Shafie, who had indicated earlier that he might form a minority government with 32 assemblymen under Warisan Plus, seemed to have given up the plan after Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) proposed Sabah Bersatu chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor as its sole choice for chief minister earlier yesterday.

Parti Bersatu Sabah secretary-

general Datuk Jahid Jahim turned up at the Istana yesterday to hand over 41 statutory declarations of GRS assemblymen in support of Hajiji as the new chief minister. - Star