Darell Leiking: We'll forgive but won't forget defecting rep

 

Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president Darell Leiking says he will forgive but not forget the actions of Sebatik assemblyperson Hassan A Gani Pg Amir who left the party to become a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-friendly independent yesterday.

In a Facebook post, Leiking said that the incident reminded him and his comrades of why they are committed to their cause.

"Myself and some of my elected comrades had served five years (2013-2018) as opposition representatives and we have been through some challenges politically, but we have never wavered and crossed over to the government of the day.

"This despite all the shortcomings, all the demands, all innuendoes, all the personal attacks and even fiscal enticement offers.

"We cannot negotiate or compromise on what we were elected for, more so as an individual," said Leiking who was first elected Penampang MP in 2013 as a PKR representative but subsequently joined Warisan upon its formation in 2016.

"We were the government for 22 months (federal level) and 26 months (state)," recalled the former minister of international trade and industry who is also Moyog state assemblyperson.

"In that time, we lost friends who, for their own political reasons, left and attacked us, too, in their process of leaving but to each his or her own.

"That, I guess, is the way of life some profess and some, unfortunately, have made it a norm.

"We are taught to forgive (as it is divine) and we must but we will never forget how they had abandoned their cause easily.

"More so when some cannot bear to represent that cause as an opposition representative," said Leiking.

Yesterday, Hassan A Gani Pg Amir claimed he was quitting the party, saying Warisan was giving priority to politics over the wellbeing of the people.

He said he now supports the Bersatu-helmed Sabah government of Chief Minister Hajiji Noor as well as the leadership of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

"What the country needs today is political stability. This is important to ensure that the government can give its full attention to dealing with Covid-19 and safeguarding the well-being of the people.

"I am deeply saddened to see Warisan which is still seen in tune with Pakatan Harapan which places a priority on politics over the well-being of the people who are burdened with the Covid-19 issue," claimed Hassan A Gani.

His defection means that GRS, the coalition of component parties comprising Perikatan Nasional, BN and Parti Bersatu Sabah, currently has the support of 48 assemblypersons out of a total of 79. - Mkini