KOTA KINABALU: Beluran MP Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee has declared his intention to remain with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) amid an exodus led by the chairman of the party’s Sabah chapter Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“I am still Bersatu’s Beluran division chief. I am staying put with Sabah Bersatu,” he said.
Kiandee, who is Bersatu vice-president, said: “I heard they had a gathering on Friday night when they made the decision. I was not invited nor informed of it.”
He said the move by Hajiji would not “shut down” Bersatu in Sabah.
Kiandee said he was confident that he could rebuild the party in no time.
The party, he believed, would retain its grassroots support as those leaving did not have the blessings of party members.
“I know some of the division chiefs have second thoughts over the decision. It is their right to choose whatever vehicle they want in their political recalibration.
“They can justify their move with whatever reasons.
“Bersatu is here in Sabah to stay. We will rebuild it,” he said when contacted.
Kiandee, a former Cabinet minister, retained the Beluran constituency on a Perikatan Nasional ticket after his seat was allocated to Barisan Nasional under an electoral seat-sharing pact between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan.
It is learned that not all Sabah Bersatu division chiefs attended the meeting with Hajiji on Friday night.
The four GRS MPs from Bersatu – Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (Batu Sapi), Datuk Matbali Musah (Sipitang), Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (Papar) and Datuk Jonathan Yassin (Ranau) – were apparently absent.
These four MPs are GRS direct members. It is learned that they did not attend the meeting as they need to remain with Bersatu to avoid breaking the anti-party hopping law.
In Petaling Jaya, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said there would be a “restructuring” process to strengthen the party’s state chapter.
“The party management will immediately create ‘structures’ which recently collapsed at all levels in order to reinvigorate the party,” he said.
He is confident that Sabah Bersatu will not be impacted by the departure of the leaders.
“Bersatu will remain in Sabah and it will rise from this situation,” said Ahmad Faizal, adding that he was saddened by Hajiji’s move in leading others to leave Sabah Bersatu.
