Speculation was rife earlier in the day that the state government would collapse after rumours surfaced that Sabah BN, led by deputy chief minister Bung Moktar Radin, was in advanced talks with Shafie Apdal’s Warisan to unseat Hajiji’s government.

Hajiji leads a state administration which comprises 53 assemblymen in the 79-seat legislative assembly. GRS holds 26 of those seats, while Sabah BN has 17.

Warisan, with 19 seats, is the sole party making up the opposition.

The move failed to materialise after six Sabah Umno assemblymen refused to lend their support to the endeavour.

A Daily Express report named them as Shahelmey Yahya, James Ratib, Jasni Daya, Harun Durabi, Yusof Yaakob and Andi Muhammad.

The group was opposed to the idea of BN teaming up with rival Warisan to form a new state government led by Shafie as chief minister, BN Sabah chief Bung as his deputy, and former Sabah chief minister Salleh Said Keruak as the finance minister.

Shafie was believed to have offered Sabah Umno four ministerial posts, the report said.

It said expectations were that the alliance would secure support from smaller parties to enable them to secure enough support to topple Hajiji.

However, they fell short of the 40 assemblymen required.

GRS leaders denounced the move, describing it as an attempt to destabilise the state’s politics.

Sabah Pakatan Harapan, which has seven seats in the state assembly, has also reaffirmed its support for Hajiji.

The plan’s collapse became clear when a joint press conference by Shafie and Bung at a hotel in Kota Kinabalu was called off two hours after it was scheduled to take place, the report said.

Several Warisan assemblymen were reported to have gathered at the venue, including Moyong assemblyman Darell Leiking, Tanjung Aru assemblyman Junz Wong and Karamunting assemblyman George Hiew.