He told reporters who contacted him that he could not issue any remarks to the media as he was a civil servant.
Speaker Syed Abbas Syed Ali could not be contacted for verification on the matter.
According to an unverified WhatsApp message being circulated, Shafie had taken the action after 19 opposition state assembly members were sworn in on Tuesday without him being informed of the event.
A day earlier, they had boycotted a special state assembly sitting at which Shafie, who is Parti Warisan Sabah president, had secured the support from the assembly, including four nominated assemblymen, as the rightful chief minister.
These 19 reps however took their oaths of office in a simple ceremony held in the speaker’s chamber the next day.
Nine of the legislators were from Umno, six from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), two from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), and one each from Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and the United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Organisation (Upko).
According to the message, “Both the speaker and the state assembly secretary were heavily reprimanded and the latter was told to pack his belongings.”
Meanwhile, PBS secretary-general Johnny Mositun said he was concerned about any attempt to breach the state constitution, adding that in principle, any attempt by the executive to interfere in the affairs of the legislative would be wrong.
The former deputy speaker of 10 years also said he was aware of the allegation but could not verify its truthfulness.
“I must remind all parties that in Sabah we have separation of powers between the judiciary, the executive and the legislative, which the state assembly falls under,” he said.
“Granted, if the claim was true, Shafie could have been upset because he felt he should at least be informed about the event out of courtesy,” he added.
“However, any attempt by the executive to interfere in the matter of the legislative wing is wrong and should not happen.”
Mositun said Dalinting should not be easily dismissed by the chief minister as he was a civil servant.
He added that it was crucial for the experienced Dalinting to be at the state assembly sitting next month to ensure a smooth meeting.
Warisan and its ally, Pakatan Harapan (PH), were tied with Barisan Nasional (BN) at 29 seats each following the May 9 election.
State BN chairman Musa Aman was able to form the government after gaining a slight majority of 31 seats following STAR’s decision to join forces with BN.
However, Shafie was sworn in by Sabah Governor Juhar Mahiruddin on May 12, after four Umno and two Upko representatives crossed over to the Warisan-PH fold. Two more assemblymen, from Umno and Upko, also defected later.
Vote of confidence in Shafie means nothing, says Sabah lawyer