KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Yusof Yacob officially quit Warisan today, ending a week of speculation about his departure from the Sabah outfit.
The 66-year-old leaves along with 15 committee members of the party’s Sipitang division, the information chiefs of six divisions, and the Tawau division head.
The six information chiefs are from Lahad Datu, Tawau, Beluran, Kudat, Sipitang and Sepanggar.
Justifying his move, Yusof, who was also the party’s information chief, said he could do little being in the opposition, especially when it comes to resolving issues in his constituency.
He said he will be an independent assemblyman for now.
“There are a lot of issues in Sindumin that need resolving. But being in the opposition, when I ask for help from government servants, they appeared hesitant. They are shy.
“But the current term is still a long way to go, about four years until the state holds a fresh election. So, it is best for me to do this,” he told a press conference here today.
Yusof indicated that he is not in tune with Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s stand for the party to refuse cooperation with the federal government via a memorandum of understanding signed between Putrajaya and opposition pact Pakatan Harapan recently.
Yusof is the second rep to leave Warisan this year.
Sebatik’s Hassan A. Gani Pg Amir quit to become an independent on February 25.
Yusof said he will submit a letter on his departure to the state assembly’s office.
This will not be his last term, he said, pointing out that he has already been in “semi-retirement” after not being fielded as a candidate in the 2008 general election.
“I was convinced to be fielded as a candidate in the 2018 elections by Warisan on April 21, 2018, just before nomination day for the 14th general election. I was somewhat of a last-minute candidate.”
He defended Sindumin in the Sabah polls in September last year.
Warisan won 22 seats – the most by a single party in the state assembly. The figure has now fallen to 20. – The Vibes, October 8, 2021
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