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GABUNGAN Rakyat Sabah (GRS) views the recent defection of several members to other parties, including Warisan, as a “cleansing process” within the coalition, said its Deputy Secretary-General, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The Papar MP said Warisan had long accused GRS of being a “party of defectors”, but current political developments showed that party-hopping was now happening across the board — and even celebrated by other blocs.
“Many, including Warisan, have labelled GRS as a party of defectors, a place for those who jump.
“But if we look at the latest developments, those who have switched sides include leaders not only from Gagasan Rakyat or GRS, but also from Barisan Nasional (BN), and they are welcomed with red-carpet treatment and press conferences to celebrate their entry,” he told reporters after a press conference in Papar, Sabah on Sunday.
Armizan, who also serves as Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, said this based on reports that several GRS members had recently shifted their allegiance to other parties, including Warisan.
He noted that there are no laws preventing non-elected members from changing parties, describing it as an individual right. However, he said such moves could also signal an internal “cleansing process” within the coalition.
“Whether this stems from disappointment at not being chosen as candidates, I will not speculate. But if that is the reason, it could be seen as an opportunity for internal purification, because our struggle is not based on personal interests,” he said.
Armizan stressed that leaders must respect party decisions on candidate selection, reminding members that the party’s struggle is for the people, not personal ambition.
At the same time, he questioned Warisan’s apparent shift in stance towards party-hopping.
“If GRS was once accused of being a haven for defectors, now they themselves are accepting leaders from other parties.
“So, thank you to Warisan, because they have effectively answered the accusations they once levelled against GRS,” he said.
Recently, several political figures, including Gagasan Rakyat Pitas deputy chief Datuk Harun Ismail, Gagasan Rakyat Pantai Manis information chief Amri Abu Bakar, and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Tanjung Kapor division chief Datuk Peter Chin Kee Yong, joined Warisan ahead of the upcoming Sabah state election. - November 2, 2025