Musa Aman's son Yamani joins Bersatu

Yamani Hafez receiving his Bersatu membership card from Dr Mahathir.

KOTA KINABALU: Yamani Hafez Musa, the eldest son of former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman is now a member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, after months of uncertainty over his position.

Hafez, who is Sipitang MP, received his membership card from Prime Minister and party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during a luncheon with senior Sabah Bersatu members at a hotel here on Tuesday (Sept 17).

"Hafez is now a member of Sabah Bersatu. He received his card from Dr Mahathir," Sabah Bersatu secretary Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said when met after Dr Mahathir held a closed-door meeting with the party leaders.

Kiandee said that the acceptance of Yamani put an end to all speculation over his position with the party.

"Hafez will no longer sit as an independent in Parliament but join us on the government's backbench," he added.

Hafez was not immediately accepted as a party member when Bersatu spread its wings in Sabah on April 6, this year.

He had left Sabah Umno with senior leaders to become independents before ex-Umno moved en bloc to Bersatu when the party moved into Sabah.

Sabah Bersatu now has five MPs and nine state assemblymen making it the second-biggest party in the state after Parti Warisan Sabah.

Hafez had earlier this year kept his Sipitang seat after an election petition against the results of the May 9 general election was thrown out by an Election Court.