FIVE Sabah Umno assemblymen and three former Warisan assemblymen joined Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in Kota Kinabalu on Feb 21, who barely a month ago faced a serious challenge to his leadership.
The five were Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Arshad Bistari (Tampasuk) and Datuk Hamid Awang (Balung).
They were among six Sabah Umno assemblymen who refused to be part of an attempt by Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s Warisan to oust Hajiji in January this year.
The three from Warisan had announced their withdrawal from the party earlier this month. They were Azlinah Ariff (Kunak), Ben Chong Chen Bin (Tanjung Kapor) and Mohammad Mohamarin (Banggi).
With the latest development, the representation in the 79-seat State Legislative Assembly is as follows: Gagasan Rakyat alone has 24 seats while the coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) which incorporates Gagasan Rakyat, PBS, Star, SAPP and Usno collectively has 38.
Identifying themselves as GRS-friendly are 12 members comprising Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah with one seat and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) with three seats. KDM which wavered between supporting GRS and the opposition had on the same day once again pledged allegiance to GRS. Then there is Pakatan Harapan’s seven elected representatives comprising DAP, PKR and Upko, while PAS is still enjoying its sole Nominated Assemblyman seat despite not being part of the Unity Government.
The 12 Barisan Nasional-Umno members who were hostile towards Hajiji had also since announced an about-turn and declared support for him.
On the opposition side at State level now (but not in the federal level Unity Government) is Warisan who saw its strength reduced to 16. Parti Bangsa Malaysia has one seat.
“This is our direction, and we hope the participation of more friends will change the political landscape in Sabah,” Dr Yusuf told a media conference at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu, on Feb 21, on behalf of the seven other assemblymen.
“We hope Sabah has a stable system and is united for the betterment of the people of Sabah.
“Our effort is solely for the benefit of Sabah and her people. We want a state that is stable, developed and progressive,” he said.
Without going into details, he said more would emerge from their cocoons and join the struggle.
On whether they (Umno assemblymen) are ready to face any action from Umno, he said “We are more than prepared and have already decided to face whatever decision is made.”
“They (Umno) have already accepted our show cause letter and we are ready to face whatever decision,” he said, expecting expulsion.
He said the choice to leave Umno was taken solely on their own free will.
“We do not want any more crises. We want to look forward for the sake of the people of Sabah and Sabah politics.
“We want to focus on development. People have had enough of the crisis.
“What we want now is to look into the well-being of the people. People desire lower prices of goods, better roads and more development and job opportunities.
“As leaders, we should focus on how to improve people’s well-being. Certainly there are some who think otherwise, but for us, the people and the State come first,” he said.
