KOTA KINABALU – DAP has closed the door on the fight to better the lives of indigenous people in Sabah’s interiors, said former party man Adrian Lasimbang today.
Lasimbang, who is also a former senator, told The Vibes that he joined DAP because he believed the party would be able to empower the indigenous people in the state.
“However, the new chapter leadership no longer gives the room to effectively implement native communities’ programmes.
“For this, I have made the decision to focus all my resources and time to continue my struggle via the non-government organisations,” he said in explaining his decision to leave DAP.
Lasimbang was appointed senator under the DAP ticket after the 2018 general election during the short-lived Warisan-PH rule in Sabah.
He is also a known indigenous people’s rights activist, along with sister and current DAP Kapayan rep Jannie Lasimbang, even before joining DAP.
Lasimbang said that while he still believes that the Pakatan Harapan has an important mission to bring about reforms in Malaysia, he hopes that the leadership could bring about a fresh approach and cooperation with other emerging parties.
His work includes recognition for the introduction of home-made micro-hydro dams in rural Sabah via the Tonibung movement based in Penampang.
Last night in a joint statement, Lasimbang, Elopura rep Calvin Chong, and Sri Tanjung rep Justin Wong announced their departure from Sabah DAP, citing they no longer trust the newly elected state chapter committee.
Lasimbang said DAP is in need of an overhaul to curb the supposed manipulation of certain individuals and the “Godfather” mentality to ensure that Sabah’s indigenous people can be included in their political cause.
Meanwhile, Wong briefly said he would remain as an independent assemblyman, refusing to make known the direction of his political allegiance.
The first time rep, who is also the son of the former Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Jimmy Wong, was the first to express his discontent over the new state chapter line-up.
The senior Wong left Sabah DAP on November 22, as he was unhappy that Chong, Lasimbang, state Wanita chief Jannie, and Kota Kinabalu lawmaker Chan Foong Hin have been left out of the committee.
Chong, meanwhile, remains mum, but is expected to issue a statement on his departure from DAP and his new political alignment. – The Vibes, January 21, 2022
Additional reporting by Rebecca Chong
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