Mohammadin Ketapi quits Bersatu after only six months

KOTA KINABALU: Lahad Datu MP Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi has left Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) on Tuesday (June 28), just six months after joining the party.

Mohamaddin, who is also Segama assemblyman, said he decided to quit Bersatu as he was not given any role despite joining the party on Nov 26.

“I was promised a role to lead the party in the Lahad Datu parliamentary area and Segama state constituency, but I received no role despite having been with the party for six months,” he said at a press conference at a resort here.

“So, there is no need for me to be at the party. I am only wasting my time,” he added.

The former tourism, arts and culture minister said he would now be an independent MP and assemblyman but friendly to the Sabah and federal governments.

Mohammadin won the Lahad Datu and Segama seats under Parti Warisan before quitting the party on Oct 30 last year to become an independent, shortly before joining Bersatu the following month.

Asked if he was worried about the public’s perception of his principles over him leaving one party so soon after another, the 65-year-old said he was not concerned about the matter.

“Many will call this a ‘katak’ (party-hopping) move, but why should I stay there doing nothing? Bukan mau tunggu bertelur (not waiting to lay eggs) ... we should work for the rakyat.

“I am not worried about that. If you want to call me a katak or monkey, just do so, I don’t care.

“If a katak which has no education, the person will jump for nothing, but a katak with education will keep on jumping for the people,” he said.

Mohammadin said he and his supporters had been sidelined by the Bersatu division in Lahad Datu led by an individual known as Haji Akim.

He said they were not allowed to set up branches there, but instead were told to join the 14 existing branches in Lahad Datu.

“If this is the practice that is to rule with an iron fist, then not many would want to join Bersatu.

“I wish to thank and congratulate the Bersatu Lahad Datu division chief who is also a Bersatu supreme council member who acts like an elected representative despite losing the past election,” he said in a sarcastic manner.

Mohammadin also claimed that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also the Sabah Bersatu chief, had agreed with his suggestion to include new faces in political appointments in the division and branches in Segama.

But he sarcastically said he was “impressed” when all the letters he submitted to Hajiji to suggest the new names were never entertained.

He further alleged that the Segama constituency allocation promised to him never reached him.

“But I am not discouraged by all this, as I am still supporting the state and Federal governments,” he said.