Bernama reported that Shahelmey, who is also the Tanjung Keramat assemblyman, said he only learnt of the matter through the media and would not make any decision until he had received official notification from Umno.

“We wait for confirmation on my six-year suspension. (Even) if it becomes a reality, my status as MP is still valid,” he told reporters in Putatan, Sabah.

Shahelmey said his status as an MP would only be affected if he switched parties.

Last Saturday, Umno suspended Shahelmey for six years for not toeing the party line during the attempted coup to oust Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor earlier this year.

Shahelmey was among the four Umno assemblymen who decided to back Hajiji after Sabah Umno retracted its support for the chief minister.

The other three are Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk), Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit) and James Ratib (Sugut).