Labuan: Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli announced Thursday he has joined Sabah-based Parti Warisan Sabah to enable the island to gain more autonomy over its development agenda.Rozman, 54, who has been the Labuan MP since 2013, said he decided to leave Umno after taking into consideration the importance of ensuring the continuity of Labuan's economic agenda."In view of the political landscape changes, my entry into Warisan today is also to fulfil the people's wish…to ensure that Labuan's development is in tandem with that of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya," he told a press conference at the Labuan Airport.
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Also present were Warisan Deputy President Datuk Darrel Leiking, Vice-President Datuk Junz Wong, Secretary-General Loretto Padua Jr and Labuan Warisan Chief Coordinator Salim Abdul Rahman.Rozman said his decision to join the Sabah ruling party reflected his unselfishness in politics in fulfilling the people's desire, adding he would work with Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties in Labuan and Sabah to ensure that Labuan continues to receive attention from the Federal Government.
"I have made an appointment with Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad and I will see him to inform of my entry into Warisan and discuss further Labuan's economic development and the importance of cooperation with his ministry," he said.Rozman said like Sabah, Labuan too needs empowerment to be able to move even faster in the development mainstream.
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"In the Malaysia Baharu (New Malaysia) era, we believe it will be easier for us to ask for our (economic development) needs to be fulfilled to move forward," he said. He said Warisan was his chosen party due to Labuan's proximity to Sabah and in the interest of socio-economic development.
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"I also want to ensure that my second term as MP is productive and beneficial to the people here," he added.On Umno, Rozman said the party was still relevant as an opposition for our democratic country and hoped it would continue to play its role.He also said he was still in favour of Labuan continuing as a Federal Territory and that as such, it should continue to be given due attention.Leiking said Rozman had been admitted into Warisan immediately and this would bring political changes both to Labuan and Sabah."There were no offers to him to join Warisan but for the future of Labuan," he said.
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Junz Wong welcomed Rozman into Warisan, describing the move as a wise decision for the betterment of Labuan, especially its economic development."Now we just need to focus on developing Sabah together with the island," he said. - Iffah Dilaney
