SANDAKAN – Warisan has lost another assemblyman after Karamunting rep George Hiew Vun Zin announced he was leaving the party and joining Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) today.
In his statement, Hiew said the people are tired of the political turmoil in Sabah, and only with political stability could he bring development to his constituency.
“For the welfare of the people and for development in Karamunting, I have decided to support the unity government led by the prime minister, and the Sabah government led by Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor,” he said.
Warisan is now left with 14 assemblymen, after losing a total of 11 while taking in two reps from DAP.
Last Monday (February 27), Petagas assemblyman Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari quit Warisan to join Gagasan Rakyat.
This came barely two weeks after three party members Mohammad Mohamarin (Banggi), Ben Chong (Tg Kapor) and Norazlinah Arif (Kunak) left the party to become independent reps friendly to the Sabah government helmed by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.
Hiew won the Karamunting seat under Warisan’s ticket in 2018 and 2020 and was once the Sabah assistant minister of housing and local government when Warisan governed Sabah (2018-2020).
He thanked Warisan’s president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal for giving him the opportunity to grow in politics.
“However, now it is time to focus fully on uniting the people, developing Sabah, and claiming Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“I will give all my time and energy to work, and ensure the people’s well-being is taken care of, and bring the desperately needed development to my constituency,” he added. –The Vibes, March 4, 2023