Warisan to pursue suit against 10 reps for leaving party

KOTA KINABALU – Warisan will proceed with suits for breach of contract against 10 assemblymen who left the party. 

Its president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the party decided this after studying the grounds of judgment made by the Kuala Lumpur High Court against Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, who was ordered to pay her former party PKR RM10 million for breaching an election bond after she defected in 2020. 

“Before contesting the 2020 Sabah elections, the 10 Warisan assemblymen had agreed in a contract to vacate their seats in the event that they leave the party after winning. 

“These assemblymen breached their contract with Warisan the moment they left the party. The defectors should also be liable to pay the cost incurred by Warisan for financing them as candidates and their campaigns,” Shafie said in a statement here today. 

After the state polls in 2020, Warisan saw the defection of 11 of its assemblymen, namely Hassan A. Gani Pg Amir (Sebatik), Datuk Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Peter Anthony (Melalap), Juil Nuatim (Limbahau), Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi (Segama), Rina Jainal (Kukusan), Norazlinah Arif (Kunak), Mohamad Mohamarin (Banggi), Chong Chen Bin (Tg Kapor), Datuk Awang Ahmad Sah Sahari (Petagas), and Hiew Vun Zin (Karamunting).

In the Sebatik assemblyman’s case, which Warisan already took to court in 2021, the party lost its bid to get the seat declared vacant after the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled in June last year that the pre-signing of undated resignation letters was unlawful.

Explaining the party’s decision to proceed with suing the 10 assemblymen, Shafie said Warisan wanted the court to decide on the matter.

“These assemblymen were elected by the people in a democratic process and their case should be judged democratically. 

“The fact remains that they won on a Warisan ticket, elected by voters who chose Warisan and not any other party.

“Their act of hopping to another party is undemocratic and a clear indication of having betrayed the people’s trust,” he said. 

One of the defectors, Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Yusof Yacob refuted the notion that the assemblymen are obligated to repay Warisan for financing them to be candidates in the state election. 

Yusof said assemblymen only took an oath of loyalty and signed a letter that they would vacate their seats if they leave Warisan, without any agreement on repayment. – The Vibes, July 20, 2023