KOTA KINABALU – Warisan lost another assemblyman in Sabah – this time Kukusan rep Rina Jainal has left the party for Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, which is led by Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah.
At a press conference at Hilton Hotel here today, Rina announced that she is quitting all her positions in Warisan, including vice-chief of the women’s wing and Kalabakan division chief, effective immediately.
“With a heavy heart, I also announce my departure from Warisan, effective today, after five years of struggle in the party.”
She also announced that she will be joining Harapan Rakyat.
Rina said there will be detractors, but it is a decision she made on her own.
She added that she chose Harapan Rakyat despite it being a small party because she believes that this will allow her to better serve her constituents.
“I am inspired to serve the people in Tawau particularly in Kukusan. The fight in Warisan is in line with Harapan Rakyat, but I believe that this party will provide more focus on my constituents.”
She said her words may not mean much now, but she hopes to show what she can do in the new party in the next three months.
Earlier, Liew said Rina was not bribed to cross over to his party.
“The only thing that she had ‘eaten’ from me was a cup of coffee at my home.”
He said he will suggest to party leadership for Rina to become deputy president as she is sincere and dedicated to serve the people.
“I need a deputy and a woman chief who is sincere, without condition, to join my party. I see that Rina is deserving of the position.
“Give Rina a chance. Give her three months. Please don’t accuse her with false statements.”
Kukusan is a new state seat included in the 2020 Sabah election. Rina won with a hairline majority of 10 votes against Barisan Nasional’s Chaya Sulaiman.
Harapan Rakyat also recently applied to be included in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition, but Liew was not keen to comment on the matter.
The party was formed by the late Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin in 2016, but was supposed to be dissolved in February 2019 after 64,000 of its members joined Bersatu, which was at the time part of Pakatan Harapan.
However, the party was retained by its supreme council members in August 2019 through a special general assembly, and fielded candidates in the 2020 state election.
Warisan now has seven MPs and 18 assemblymen in the 79-seat state assembly. The party has lost a few members, including vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony, but also absorbed several DAP reps. – The Vibes, June 5, 2022
