KOTA KINABALU: Parti KDM remains intact despite the departure of its vice president Datuk Johair Mat Lani and her supporters, says the party’s secretary-general Dr Gaim Lungkapis.
Gaim said her actions to leave and pledge support to Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) which was led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor also did not jeopardise KDM’s position within the Federal unity government.
According to him, he knew Johair would leave after the latter had expressed her intentions to quit the party headed by Datuk Peter Anthony on the excuse of family problems.
"I think the KDM upper echelon was also aware of her intentions because she had previously shared about a critical family issue," he said, in a statement here on Monday (Jan 8).
Johair, who is also Beaufort division head, had on Sunday (Jan 7) announced she and other leaders from her division had quit the native-based interior party in favour of Gagasan Rakyat.
She said she was relinquishing all her positions and that all the division committee leadership as well as its Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings were together with her.
She however thanked KDM for their support as well as Anthony, who is Melalap assemblyman, for his leadership, particularly in his effort to place KDM on equal footing with other older parties in the state.
Gaim said while KDM was aware it did not hold any position within the state, this was only an interim situation.
"KDM believes it will achieve victories in certain seats and subsequently become part of the state government later.
"In any case, we accept her resignation and wish her well but it will not jeopardise KDM which is headed by Anthony and assisted by his deputy president Datuk Wetrom Bahanda.
"What is important is our strength is not affected and the party will continue to fight for the people," he said, adding KDM remained in support of the Madani government headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
