SANDAKAN: Kinabatangan Umno Division committee member Datuk Juhari Janan on Thursday announced his decision to quit the party and expressed intention to join Pakatan Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat).
Juhari, who is Kampung Hidayat Suan Lamba Umno branch chief, announced the decision together with 35 Umno branch heads involving 2,000 members.
"This decision was made voluntarily without any coercion from anyone, to support the local party in developing Sabah and demanding equal rights.
“We took the decision to leave after considering Sabah’s development needs could be better fulfilled by joining Gagasan Rakyat,” he said, adding the State lagged behind Sarawak which was able to obtain what it demanded from the Federal Government.
“I have decided to give full support to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to spearhead the Sabah Government,” he told a press conference here.
Juhari said his resignation letter had been sent to the Kinabatangan Umno Division office.
Juhari had previously held the posts of Sabah Umno Youth Chief, Umno Youth Exco, Kinabatangan Umno Division Vice Chief, Kinabatangan Umno Division Treasurer and Kinabatangan Umno Youth Chief.
He said his entry into Gagasan Rakyat would help gain more new members for the party in Kinabatangan.
This comes after four assemblymen from Sabah Barisan Nasional-Umno and one aligned to Sabah Barisan, as well as three Parti Warisan representatives announced their decision to join Gagasan Rakyat on Monday (Feb 20).
Gagasan Rakyat is the new political vehicle of Hajiji who is also the Chairman of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ruling state coalition.
