KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob is still Sindumin’s State Assemblyman, according to a statement released by State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Haji Kadzim M Yahya.
The statement said, on the 8th of October 2021, YB. Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob declared that he has officially left Parti Warisan as a member and become an independent assemblyman supporting the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Government led by YAB Datuk Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister.
“On the very same day, YB. Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob informed me via telephone conversation of his decision and requested a meeting with me at my office. The meeting was held on the 11th October 2021 at or around 11.20 a.m.”
“During the meeting, YB. Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob submitted to me a Statutory Declaration, declaring inter-alia:- that he is revoking all the pledges he has made with Parti Warisan before the 16th general elections in 2020 took place, including if any, a pledge to vacate the State seat N.35 Sindumin should he leave Parti Warisan. Subsequent to that, on the 15th October 2021, I have received a letter from a legal firm claiming that YB Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob appointed them. Attached with the letter is a resignation letter purportedly signed by YB Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob and was purportedly dated 8th October 2021.”
“Following the said purported letter of resignation which YB Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob categorically denied having done so, YB Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob submitted another Statutory Declaration dated 16th October 2021, declaring that inter-alia:- that he had never signed the purported resignation letter dated 8.10.2021 as submitted by the legal firm and that he had resigned his seat N.35 Sindumin via the resignation letter.”
“I have received THREE (3) documents from the YB.Datuk Dr.Yusof Yacob and TWO (2) documents from from Parti Warisan or its agent.”
“To determine the status of the seat N.35 Sindumin, I am guided by the documents that had been submitted to me above, the meeting conducted on the 11th October 2021, the law as it now stands and the case of Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Sebatik which is similar in facts with the issue now at hand.”
Hence, based on the above, although YB Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob is no longer a member of the political Party, namely Warisan, the State seat N.35 Sindumin did not fall vacant when YB Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob declared to leave Parti Warisan on 8th October 2021.
Therefore, YB Datuk Dr. Yusuf Yacob is still the Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) for the State seat N.35 Sindumin.-pr/BNN
