KOTA KINABALU: Several independent elected representatives in Sabah are considering joining a political party based in the state or in the peninsula, said former Sabah UMNO liaison committee chairman Datuk Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji, who is also the Sulaman assemblyman, said they had also decided not to join Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) or return to UMNO.
“We are looking for the right party to join within the next one month. However, we will not join Warisan,” he told reporters after attending the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Chinese New Year ‘open house’ here today.
On Dec 12 last year, 13 elected representatives from UMNO quit the party to become independents, citing lack of confidence in the party’s direction and leadership.
Besides Hajiji, the other elected representatives who quit UMNO include five MPs – Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang), Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Datuk Zakaria Edris (Libaran) and Datuk Rahim Bakri (Kudat).
The assemblymen who quit are Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (Karanaan); Datuk Japlin Akim (Usukan); Datuk Musbah Jamli (Tempasuk); Datuk Gulam Haidar Khan (Kawang); Datuk Mohd Arifin Arif (Membakut); Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (Klias); Matbali Musah (Lumadan) and Datuk Nizam Titingan (Apas).
However, Tempasuk assemblyman Musbah recently joined Warisan.
Hajiji said that although they were independents, they continued to work with PBS, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) under Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS). – Bernama
