TAWAU: Kalabakan MP Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh refuted a claim that he had left Umno.
He said talk of him having left Umno was just a rumour, apparently spread by individuals unhappy with his being outspoken in parliament recently.
"I was firm in expressing the rights of the Sabah people in the Dewan Rakyat because that is my responsibility as an elected representative.
"I want the problems of the people, especially the constituents of Kalabakan, to be given appropriate attention.
"However, when I voice out the people's problems or issues, it does not mean that I want to leave the party. I am just carrying out my responsibility as an elected representative," the Kalabakan Umno chief said in a statement.
Abdul Ghapur thanked the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for having responded to his recent request in Parliament to monitor the waters off Tawau.
"To eliminate smuggling effectively, I hope all agencies involved, including the MMEA, Customs and the Tawau Municipal Council, can work together while the people should help by providing information," he said.
He said he hoped that the government would consider providing MMEA with more assets to enable more effective monitoring of the country's waters. - Bernama