Loyalty and integrity more valuable than numbers, says Bung

KOTA KINABALU: Integrity is better than having numbers in the state assembly, said Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (pic).

He said as he had mentioned before, it would rather have the support of fewer assemblymen that are loyal and possess integrity rather than more people but without such values.

He said this following a joint press conference called by four renegade Sabah Umno assemblymen who announced they will join Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Tuesday (Feb 21).

The four in the press conference were Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Arshad Bistari (Tempasuk) and Datuk Hamid Awang (Balung).

"Actually, I have also foreseen the jumping of the four Umno assemblymen as they have been served with a show-cause letter for not supporting Sabah Barisan-Umno during the political crisis in January," he said when contacted on Wednesday (Feb 22).

Bung Moktar said the four were given until Friday (Feb 24) to reply to the show-cause letter.

Those issued the a show cause letter included Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Hamid Awang (Balung), and Tanjung Keramat’s Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.

Datuk Arshad Bistari (Tempasuk) did not receive the letter and was not part of the January crisis while Shahelmey, who supports Hajiji, was not in the joint press conference. Shahelmey has not quit Umno.

Also at the joint press conference was Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, who quit Warisan in October 2021 and applied to join Umno, but not yet accepted into Umno.

Bung Moktar said James’ name has been brought up and it was suggested that Umno sack him during the 15th General Election as he was found campaigning for Perikatan Nasional candidate Datuk Dr Ronald Kiandee.

This is why, he stressed, he did not want many assemblymen in his camp if they were not loyal and only wanted positions for themselves.