His announcement was made in response to an invitation from Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin for Musa to help campaign for BN candidates in Libaran, which is seen to be a stronghold of the former chief minister.

“In hard times and in good times, we must help one another. That is our original struggle. God-willing, we will help each candidate together,” he said in an Instagram post today.

Musa yesterday told reporters that he will be going across the state to campaign for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) candidates. GRS consists of PN, BN and PBS.

He had previously sparked intense speculation after he said in a social media post that he was “going back to Sungai Manila”, although he was not present at any nomination centres when the day came.

He had been noticeably absent since then, before making a surprise appearance at an event in Beaufort last night, which was also attended by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Click here for the latest on the Sabah polls