KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Masiung Banah (Tongod-Independent) has yet to decide his allegiances, owing to Sabah’s ever-changing political landscape.
However, Masiung, who currently serves as Sabah’s Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB) chairman, said he would remain supportive of the current Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Barisan Nasional-led state government, and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor.
“At this point, I will wait. I want to reflect and see how politics in the state pan out first,” he said.
“I received many offers (to join parties). Some even offered high positions like deputy or vice-president.
“But I told them to give me time to read the current political scenario first. I have the phobia of being called a frog.
“If I join one (party) now and decide to join another later due to the political chess played (by leaders), people will call me a frog again.”
Masiung said this to reporters during the LPPB Hari Raya open house here today.
He left Upko in 2018, but later emerged as a Warisan politician in 2020.
After the 14 general election, he was also named Sabah’s youth and sports minister, but this was short-lived after Upko switched allegiances from BN to Pakatan Harapan-aligned Warisan.
But on July 30, 2020, Masiung became one of the 13 assemblymen to back former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, in a coup to oust Warisan from the state government.
The move likely led to him earning a reputation for being a political “frog”.
Following the defections, then Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal moved to dissolve the legislative assembly, paving the way for a state election.
Masiung then left Warisan and decided to contest as an independent candidate in September 2020.
After the GRS-BN alliance wrested the state, Masiung made a public apology for his role in contributing to the political turmoil in the country and Sabah.
Masiung also said he is keeping his options open on returning to his old party Upko.
Aware of a possible leadership tussle in Upko, Masiung said he would prefer the party to resolve its internal issues first.
This comes after Upko vice-president Datuk Ewon Benedick offered to contest for the presidential post in the party’s upcoming election, in an apparent challenge to incumbent Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
“I had left Upko. Let them get organised first and thereafter, think of what I would do next.
“In politics, the scenario is ever-changing. Enemies will not remain enemies for long and (it’s) the same with friends, they won’t always be friends forever.
“For now, let me be ‘single’ first. I want to focus on my work. I need to work on realising all the plans under Sabah Maju Jaya and serve the people as their elected representative.” – The Vibes, May 26, 2022
