Tanjung Batu assemblyman Andi Suryady Bandy is leaving it to the leadership of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to decide whether he will defend his seat in the upcoming Sabah election.
Andi, who is also the Kalabakan MP, said the matter of candidacy rested solely with the GRS leadership under Hajiji Noor, and that he would abide by its decision.
“For now, my priority is to ensure that development projects and welfare initiatives in my parliamentary constituency continue smoothly without disruption,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
Andi was among the Umno assemblymen who defied the party’s directive to withdraw their support for Hajiji during the conflict between Sabah Umno and the GRS bloc.
The so-called Kinabalu Move ultimately failed, as Hajiji – who was appointed chief minister in September 2020 – continued to command the support of assemblymen from both GRS and Pakatan Harapan.
Andi’s suspension from Umno was confirmed in June by party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
His decision to back Hajiji was said to be a strategic move to ensure continuity in development efforts in his constituency.
In the 2020 Sabah state election, Andi, contesting under the Barisan Nasional banner, defeated the Warisan candidate for the Tanjung Batu seat with a comfortable majority.
In June, he claimed trial to a charge of receiving a RM150,000 bribe from businessman Albert Tei in connection with mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah.
He was charged alongside Sindumin assemblyman Dr Yusof Yacob, who allegedly received a RM200,000 bribe from Tei for the same purpose.
Tei also pleaded not guilty to giving the bribes.
