TONGOD: Kuamut Assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah reiterated his support for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) following a viral message claiming that he was withdrawing support for the State’s ruling coalition.
He said he firmly supported GRS Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also Sabah Chief Minister, after messages claimed he and three Bersatu assemblymen were quitting the party.
“How could I quit when I am an independent assemblyman who is GRS friendly? I am not a member of any party that is a GRS component,” Masiung said in a statement, Monday.
He stressed that as a GRS-friendly independent, he firmly supports Hajiji’s leadership.
On Sunday, it was viralled on social media that Masiung, together with three other GRS assemblymen - Datuk Rubin Balang (Kemabong), Datuk Rudy Awah (Pitas) and Datuk Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin (Nabawan) - would ditch GRS.
Rubin, Rudy and Ghani all denied the claims when contacted earlier on Monday and said they were still with Bersatu and GRS.
Masiung said such messages were being spread to create confusion among the people.
“This was done to ‘stir the pot’ as the 15th General Election is around the corner. Those responsible did it with malicious intent. I was in Kuamut over the weekend servicing my constituents and was unreachable, as there are still many areas there that do not enjoy Internet access.
“I was only informed of the matter by my communications and media officer, Yussof Imbang, late last night,” said Masiung.
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