KOTA KINABALU: Lahad Datu Member of Parliament (MP) and Segama state assemblyman Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi has crossed over to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia “to bring more development” to the areas he represents.

       “People want changes, and I can only help them if I am with the government, that is why I choose to be with Bersatu,” he said.

       Mohamaddin, who was the tourism, arts and culture minister under the former Pakatan Harapan government, resigned from Parti Warisan Sabah on Oct 30.

       On Thursday, he handed in his membership application to join Bersatu in Kuala Lumpur. The application was handed to Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.

       Bersatu accepted and approved his membership application at the party’s special Supreme Council meeting, chaired by its president, Muhyiddin Yassin, on Thursday night. He said he was voted in as an assemblyman and MP because the people of Segama and Lahad Datu wanted to see more development.

       Mohammaddin said he would not have trouble working with Bersatu and all Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) member parties and leaders as they were “all friends”.

       Being a political veteran, he said most of the leaders in GRS were no strangers to him.

       He stressed the reason for him becoming a representative of the people was to help them.

       “That is why we must be part of the government if we wish to help them improve economically and socially,” Mohammaddin added.