KOTA KINABALU (July 30): The Sabah State Assembly was dissolved today after the Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin consented to the request made by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The following is a chronology of the political dynamics in the ‘Land Below the Wind’ that led to the dissolution:

May 9, 2018

Both Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) along with its allies from Pakatan Harapan, won 29 seats apiece from the 60-seat State Assembly in the 14th General Election (GE14).

The two remaining seats were won by Parti Solidariti Rakyat Sabah (STAR).

 May 10, 2018

Sabah BN led by Tan Sri Musa Aman received the support of the two STAR assemblymen, thus obtaining a simple majority with 31 votes that allowed BN to form the Government.

United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation(UPKO) announced its withdrawal from BN. However, four UPKO Assemblymen remained in support of Musa as Chief Minister.

Musa was sworn in as Sabah Chief Minister.

May 11, 2018

Six BN State Assemblymen left BN and joined Warisan in support of Mohd Shafie, who is also Warisan president, as Chief Minister.

May 12, 2018

Mohd Shafie was sworn in as the Sabah Chief Minister, 48 hours after Musa was sworn into office.

May 13, 2018

The Istana Negeri sent a letter to Musa through his private secretary informing the former that he was no longer the Sabah Chief Minister

May 16, 2018

Mohd Shafie announced the Sabah State Cabinet lineup with two nominated State Assemblymen, namely Tuaran MP Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, who is also UPKO president, and former Sandakan MP, the late Datuk Stephen Wong, who was the Sabah DAP chairman at that time.

May 17, 2018

Musa filed a writ requesting the court to declare him as the legitimate Chief Minister.

June 11, 2018

Warisan’s secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr and treasurer Terence Siambun were appointed as nominated Assemblymen

Sept 18, 2018

Libaran PKR division chief Jaffari Waliam was appointed as a nominated Assemblyman.

Nov 7, 2018

The Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that Mohd Shafie’s appointment as the new Sabah Chief Minister was according to the Constitution, and he is therefore the State’s rightful leader.

Musa's lawyer said an appeal would be filed against the court ruling.

June 17, 2019

Sabah DAP treasurer Ronnie Loh Ee Eng was sworn in as a nominated Assemblyman, replacing the late Datuk Stephen Wong, who passed away on March 28, 2019.

Nov 29, 2019

The Kota Kinabalu Court of Appeal dismissed with costs Musa's appeal against the rejection of his suit in challenging the validity of Mohd Shafie's appointment as the legitimate Sabah Chief Minister.

May 15, 2020

Sabah Government bloc Assemblymen led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau expressed full support for Mohd Shafie to continue to lead the administration following rumors on social media claiming of a change in the State Government by July this year.

June 9, 2020

Former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman was acquitted of all 46 criminal charges against him involving corruption and money laundering relating to timber concessions.

High Court judge Justice Muhammad Jamil Hussin granted the order after Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid told the court that the prosecution intended to withdraw all the charges during case management in Kuala Lumpur.

June 11, 2020

Mohd Shafie held a meeting with Warisan MPs and Assemblymen as well as other allies to discuss the political scenario and for them to pledge allegiance to the current leadership.

June 15, 2020

Two Assemblymen from UPKO, namely Datuk Limus Jury and Datuk James Ratib announced their departure from the party with immediate effect, thus becoming Independent Assemblymen in support of the Perikatan Nasional Federal Government.

July 21, 2020

Political discussion in Sabah over efforts to overthrow the Warisan-led State Government heats up as Musa is said to have obtained a simple majority, with several Assemblymen from the State Government bloc said to have left their respective parties.

July 23, 2020

The political scene in Sabah calms down as Assemblymen from the Government bloc denied they have left their respective parties in support of Musa.

July 23, 2020

Musa claims to have obtained a simple majority to form the new State Government through a coalition of several parties in the State.

July 30, 2020

Mohd Shafie announced the dissolution of the Sabah State Assembly, paving the way for State elections to be held within 60 days.