MACC has been urged to initiate immediate investigations into the issue involving three state legislators in Sabah who quit Warisan to throw their support behind Chief Minister Hajiji Noor as independent assemblypersons.
Warisan vice-president Junz Wong claimed that one of the defectors had openly admitted to being offered positions and huge sums of money for them to quit the party.
“MACC must investigate the jumping of three assemblypersons as one of them recorded a video in June, openly admitting that millions of ringgit and positions were being offered to them to leave Warisan.
“Talk of unity is merely a delaying tactic for Hajiji’s ‘backdoor government’ to continue to ‘buy’ our assemblypersons for (their) own political interests.
“Apparently, such talk is never sincere and cash is still king, sadly,” Wong (above) claimed in a statement.
The three who defected are Banggi assemblyperson Mohammad Mohamarin, Kunak assemblyperson Norazlinah Arif and Tanjong Kapor assemblyperson Chong Chen Bin.
In a joint statement yesterday, the three said the move was taken after examining and considering all aspects, including the direction of the political coalitions in Sabah and the views of the grassroots in the areas they represent.
Checks by Malaysiakini showed that Norazlinah had uploaded a video on her TikTok account last June, in which she revealed being enticed to leave Warisan.
Despite feeling excited after receiving such offers, she affirmed her loyalty to the party led by Shafie Apdal and said she would not leave Warisan for the sake of the people and her constituents.
“I’m only human. I also got excited after being offered millions of ringgit and big positions if I leave Warisan,” she said in the video.
“When I was elected as the people’s representative, the vote was cast for Warisan, then only my name.
“So, it’s impossible for me to disregard Warisan. It gave me victory.
“Therefore, I can’t leave Warisan or jump party for the sake of the people,” she added.
Wong claimed that “money politics in Sabah” is the reason why the anti-party hopping law has not been tabled in the state assembly, despite the bill being passed at the federal level and in several other states.
He also advised the GRS government to work hard to serve the people well or face their wrath following its abysmal performance in terms of governance and service to the people.
‘Nothing will change with Warisan’
As for Warisan, Wong said the party will not change and continue to fight for Sabah’s rights.
“We will do our check and balance of this ‘backdoor’ Sabah government.
“Warisan will give full support to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his administration for the recovery of our economy,” the Tanjung Aru assemblyperson added.
The defection of three assemblypersons from Warisan leaves the state opposition with just 32 seats in the 79-member state assembly, including 16 from Warisan.
It came a month after the state had a political crisis that saw Hajiji survive an attempt to overthrow him after Sabah BN under Bung Moktar Radin withdrew support for Hajiji.
Shafie had said his party did not collude with BN to overthrow Hajiji, but it wanted to question Hajiji’s legitimacy to maintain his position as chief minister following the latter’s resignation from Bersatu.- Mkini
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