Kota Kinabalu: Thirty-four Sabah Muafakat Nasional (MN) pro-tem committee members announced their departure from the coalition on Thursday, saying they were being undermined by the central leadership.
Its Chairman Jismit Japong told a press conference they came to the unanimous decision after a meeting on Wednesday.
“The central committee will be receiving the official letter within two weeks.
“Throughout two years of activity, not a single sen was given to us. I had to fork out money for flood and fire victims or towards organising gatherings.
SPONSORED CONTENT Hajiji says young business professionals' inputs needed to develop Sabah Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said he welcomed inputs from young business professionals to assist in policy formulation. Read more “But what’s most unacceptable is them finalising decisions without consulting us such as entrusting new members we have never even met despite promising autonomy during the formation of the Sabah Chapter.
“I have known MN President Tan Sri Annuar Musa for over 30 years. He will be hosting a dinner at Raia Hotel here tonight but we won’t be attending.
“It’s insulting because we were invited as guests to the dinner which we are supposed to host as the official MN Sabah chapter.
“Instead, the job was given to the new members. They had only requested us to find someone who could lead the prayers for the dinner. It’s blatant disrespect.
“Have they forgotten our existence or do they think we do things only for profit? It’s quite the opposite. We have never made money from being in the party.
“We planned on hosting a National Day programme in Beaufort and requested for RM100,000 funding but they didn’t even bother replying.
“The MN Love Respect Unity slogan is all nonsense,” he said.
According to Jismit, MN Sabah has 3,000 members, which should not be taken lightly.
“How do we muafakat (concur) when everything hangs on decisions from Kuala Lumpur. This dissolution is to protect our members.
“I recall Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor saying not to trust any NGOs from Kuala Lumpur as all of them are only seeking to cause division in Sabah. It’s true and I respect that.
“MN Sabah has never made political enemies unlike in peninsula where they petitioned for the Prime Minister to step down,” he added.
Jismit said what’s next is realising his ambitions of becoming the next Chief Minister by first winning the Klias seat with his new party, Parti Tempatan Rakyat Sabah, pending RoS approval.
He hoped it would be approved before the state elections as he aims to contest all 73 State Assembly seats.
“We plan on going solo but are always open to cooperating with the current State Government
“Ultimately, we want to convince Sabahans they need a change and to protect their rights, including fulfilling the Malaysian Agreement 1963.
“Number one on our checklist is to increase the State economy by attracting high-tech industries and create 30,000 job opportunities annually to end brain drain.
“Sabah is very rich, we have oil and gas, land, timber and tourism but the people are still poor because I think there is something not right in the management of State and Federal,” he said.
Jismit said he would also be launching a NGO, Pertubuhan Gagasan Ekonomi Wilayah Sabah, to achieve this purpose.
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