KOTA KINABALU: Opposition Parti Warisan Sabah was hit with a double blow on Saturday (Oct 30) when Datuk Mohammadin Ketapi (pic) quit the party, taking two seats with him.
Mohammadin - the Segama assemblyman and Silam MP - told a press conference here that he will be an independent assemblyman friendly to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition.
He added that as the Silam MP, he will remain an independent opposition MP without taking sides, but said that he is ready to support the federal government in matters that benifit the people.
His exit from Warisan leaves the party led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal with 19 elected state assemblymen and seven MPs.
It is the second blow for Warisan this month after Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob quit on Oct 8.
The 64 year old Mohammadin told reporters his move was to help bring development to his Segama constituency which remains backward and undeveloped.
"Segama does not even have a public toilet facility. Sitting in the opposition has brought no benefit for the people of my constituencies, " said Mohammadin, whose exit from the party has been speculated for months.
He said that during the Sept 26 state election last year, he had promised to make Segama a sub-district but had been unable to do anything as part of the opposition.
The former Federal tourism minister said that he had spoken to Shafie about his intentions and added that he has submitted his resignation letter to the party.
He thanked Shafie for bringing him into Warisan to serve the party and people, adding that the party won during the 2018 general election and took over the state government.
"We won all four state seats in Lahad Datu," he said, adding that Shafie's decision to take him into Warisan was right as it helped the party's performance in the 14th General Election in 2018 and the 2020 snap state election.
Mohammadin has been known to be controversial over the years and has drawn flak for his various statements over the years as a minister, MP and assemblyman.