Shahelmey, a state minister in the caretaker Cabinet, said he had taken note of a warning by Umno of legal action and a RM100 million fine on party members who contest the state election next month on a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah ticket.

Shahelmey was suspended by Umno in 2023 after failing to back the party’s attempted coup against chief minister Hajiji Noor.

“I’m still considering my political direction,” he said in Putatan today, Sinar Harian reported. “Nomination day is around three weeks from now, so there is still plenty of time to decide.

“What’s important is that any decision made must be for the public good, based on their mandate.”

Should Shahelmey be fielded by GRS as a candidate in the state election, he may have to forfeit his parliamentary seat under the anti-hopping law, having been elected in Tanjung Keramat in 2020 on a Barisan Nasional ticket.

He previously told FMT he was considering taking part in the coming state election, but said that it would depend on seat negotiations among the GRS coalition partners.

On Oct 11, Hajiji also revealed that Shahelmey and Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, who was also suspended by Umno, have expressed interest in representing the coalition or contesting under its ticket.