KOTA KINABALU, May 14 — Officials from the state palace have delivered a notice to Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Tan Sri Musa Aman to inform him he is no longer the state chief minister.

The letter from Sabah Governor Tun Juhar Mahiruddin was received by Musa’s private secretary Effendi Sunoh at a cafe in Inanam near here at about 11am.

"The letter says Tan Sri Musa is no longer chief minister, effective from May 12,” Abinan Asli, private secretary to Juhar told reporters here.

The palace officials had earlier this morning gone to Musa’s private home in Luyang near here to deliver the letter, but was told by the security guards that the BN leader and his family were not in.

The security guards refused to accept the letter.

Musa was reported to be in Kuala Lumpur in a meeting with acting Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after leaving at 9am.

Musa’s press secretary Afeiza Khan told reporters that "whatever significant announcement” will be made known to the media at the appropriate time.

As they were leaving Musa’s property, the palace officials were informed that Effendi was at the cafe and promptly headed to Inanam to meet him.

While Musa has adamantly refused to resign from the helm of the state government, he has moved out of Sri Gaya, the chief minister’s official residence.

In the May 9 general election, Sabah BN won 31 state seats, enough to form the state government after Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) chief Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan threw his support behind Musa, enabling him to be sworn in as chief minister on May 10. 

Parti Warisan Sabah won 21 seats, while its allies DAP and PKR won six and two seats, respectively.

However, within 48 hours, six Sabah BN assemblymen — four from Umno and two from Upko — joined Warisan, enabling Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to be sworn in as chief minister on May 12.

Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal who was sworn in as chief minister last Saturday night said Musa should have been aware that he was no longer chief minister when the governor advised him to step down as he no longer had the mandate.

Meanwhile, Kitingan arrived at the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry’s office this morning to clock in as its minister.

The Tambunan assemblyman told reporters that members of the state Cabinet appointed by Musa last week were performing their duties as expected.

"We have formed a legitimate government,” he said after a briefing by ministry officials.

Asked if he was concerned Shafie’s appointment could affect his position, Kitingan said: "They haven’t formed the government. They just appointed the second chief minister which means we proceed with our assignments as the government has been formed.”