Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin was responding to Shahelmey’s recent comments on Putatan Umno chief Jeffrey Nor Mohamed standing in Tanjung Keramat.

Shahelmey had tried to play down the announcement, claiming that BN’s final candidate list would only be confirmed when official letters are issued closer to the election.

Jeffrey was officially named as BN’s pick for the state seat last October.

“Sabah Umno and BN have never even considered fielding him (Shahelmey) as a candidate,” Bung told FMT.

“There’s no need for him to entertain high ambitions,” he said, adding that Umno had no place for disloyal characters.

Bung also dared Shahelmey to contest the seat under a different party.

“If he wants to contest under another party, by all means. Umno is prepared to take him on anytime,” he said.

Shahelmey was suspended from Umno in January 2023 after defying the party’s decision to withdraw from its alliance with Hajiji Noor’s Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.

The Putatan MP stood by Hajiji, backing him as chief minister despite Umno’s move to pull out.