KOTA KINABALU: If Rina Jainal (pic) is sincere in wanting to serve the people, she should have just become an Independent representative instead of switching parties, says Parti Warisan vice-president Datuk Jaujan Sambakong.
Taking a dig at the Kukusan assemblyman for leaving Warisan on Sunday, Jaujan said anyone who left the party saying they wanted to fight for the people and bring their struggles to the government’s attention could have turned Independent.
“They should not have jumped parties,” he said.
Rina, who quit Warisan to join the obscure Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS), earlier said the size of a party was irrelevant but what mattered most was whether the party could focus on serving the grassroots or whether it was busy with power grabbing.
“Warisan is considering legal action against the sixth assemblyman to leave its fold, for breaching a pledge of allegiance to the party before the last state election in September 2020,” said Jaujan.
The same action is being mulled for all previous five members who won their state seats on Warisan’s ticket.
They are Hassan A Gani Pg Amir (Sebatik), Datuk Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi (Segama), Datuk Peter Anthony (Melalap) and Datuk Juil Nuatim (Limbahau).
Jaujan also urged the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Barisan Nasional state government to stop the alleged act of “offering benefits” to assemblymen and to focus on improving the people’s livelihood.
He said such alleged practices, especially towards Opposition leaders, were undemocratic and could cause the people to lose confidence in the current government.
“The state government should focus on addressing various pressing issues, including the post-pandemic recovery process, rising cost of living and infrastructure woes,” he said.
Meanwhile, political analyst Lee Kuok Tiung, who is with Universiti Malaysia Sabah, said Rina, the former Warisan women’s wing deputy youth chief, could have joined a small party instead of more established ones because she saw a potential and room for her to play a bigger role in the party.
“It could be that she did not want to end up as an ordinary member once she joined another established party, or wait three years before she can contest or hold any post like in Umno and Parti Bersatu Sabah,” he said.
Lee said it could also be that Rina saw the influence of PHRS’ new president Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah in the political arena.
Liew was the Merotai assemblyman for one term in 2004, and also a former Sabah youth and sports minister.
Liew had mentioned that PHRS might consider giving Rina a post – possibly as deputy president – if all members agreed to it.
“I believe the move for PHRS to accept Rina into the party is Liew’s effort to increase their chances to be accepted into GRS,” said Lee.
PHRS recently applied to join GRS.