Hajiji's position strengthened after three reps quit Warisan

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has been dealt another blow as three of its assemblymen, including the party's Wanita chief announced they are quitting to be independents who are friendly to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

The three – Mohammad Mohamarin (Banggi), Ben Chong Chen Bin (Tanjong Kapor) and Norazlinah Arif (Kunak) – stated their decision in a video and a joint statement that went viral.

In a Facebook post on Monday (Feb 6), Norazlinah confirmed that the video and statement was the official statement from the three of them.

Their decision to leave the party comes a month after Warisan, led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, together with Sabah Barisan Nasional and Parti KDM attempted to topple Hajiji's government.

The trio's move will give Hajiji's government a more comfortable 47 seats majority in the 79-member assembly after the attempted political coup failed.

Hajiji had survived the Jan 6 coup with the support of seven Sabah Pakatan Harapan assemblymen and five Sabah Barisan-Umno (including one aligned to Umno) to hold on to his 27-month old government.

With the latest development, the hovering threat of Barisan-Warisan-KDM attempting to again topple Hajiji's government is expected to fizzle out.