Just one seat, but Umno dreaming of forming govt in Sabah, says Warisan leader

KOTA KINABALU: Umno leaders in Sabah are trying their best to entice assemblymen from the ruling state government to join them and form a backdoor government, says Parti Warisan Sabah’s Datuk Azis Jamman.

The Wira chief for Warisan said the opposition leaders were harbouring huge hopes of becoming the government here even though they only had one seat in the state assembly.

Former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman is the sole Umno assemblyman in Sabah.

Azis said Sabah Umno chief Datuk Bung Moktar Radin and its youth chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain had each issued statements claiming that Warisan would fall and that it was not impossible to see a new government formed very soon.

“Good try in wanting to play up this issue. We know they are trying to persuade our assemblymen to join them, ” he said.

“The governing leaders’ main strength is unity and solidarity, therefore don’t be surprised if their leaders join us instead, ” he added.

Bung reportedly said that Sabah was known for its "frog jumping" culture, but Warisan's deputy Wira chief Mohd Ismail Ayob said the integrity and pride of assemblymen in Sabah were not as low as perceived.

“It's not easy to see more than 17 assemblymen switching sides at a go (the number needed for a change in governance), ” he said.

Warisan and its partners have a two-third majority with 48 assemblymen (including five nominated), while the combined opposition has 17 assemblymen in the 65-member house. - Star