Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong’s allegation that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) initiated efforts to cause three Warisan elected representatives to leave the party is unacceptable and absurd, said Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Information Chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan.
He said Junz’s statement showed he is naive about his own party’s weaknesses.
On Monday, three Warisan assemblymen namely Kunak assemblywoman Norazlinah Arif, who is also Warisan Wanita Chief, Mohammad Mohamarim (Banggi) and Ben Chong (Tanjong Kapor) announced leaving the party because they had lost confidence in the party’s direction and taking into account the views of the grassroots community in the areas they represent.
Apart from that, they said, the people are also bored with the actions of the party leader who always creates various polemics and political instability in Sabah which affects efforts to develop the state and the people.
“Supposedly, after the majority of Sabahans made a decision through the 16th Sabah State Election (PRN16), then the leadership of Parti Warisan needs to accept it with open arms and then give the opportunity to the party that is given the mandate to manage and govern for the development and progress of the people and the state.
“They should take on the role of check and balance,” said Nizam in a statement Wednesday.
On Junz’s second accusation that Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, who is GRS Chairman and Gagasan Rakyat President, is not sincere in forming a unity government after the 15th General Election (GE15), he said, this is also contrary to the actions of Warisan leaders themselves.
“How is it possible that a unity government can be formed after Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal dragged Sabah Umno Chairman, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, along with 12 Umno assemblymen and three Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) assemblymen on Jan. 6 to bring down the Sabah Government led by Hajiji thru the backdoor?
“It is clear that Junz and the Warisan leadership are not sincere in this matter,” Nizam stressed.
He said Junz also displayed hypocrisy when he called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate three assemblymen who left Warisan.
But in March 2022 when two assemblymen (Elopura and Sri Tanjung) left the Democratic Action Party (DAP) to join Warisan, he (Junz) did not ask MACC to do the same.
It turns out that he (Junz) chose to be selective in this matter, he said.
Nizam said the Sabah Government led by Hajiji, the Chief Minister, has shown good performance with a clear and documented Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya 1.0 (2020-2025) development plan.
“Increased revenue collection, increased investment, economic recovery through positive growth as well as achievements in realising matters related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). All these achievements are a manifestation of excellent state management and administration.
“Therefore, it is not surprising if there are more opposition assemblymen who will leave their party and express their support for Hajiji in the near future,” he said.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
