KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan is unfazed by Jo-anna Sue Henley Rampas, the party's 2018 elections 'poster girl', fading from the party.
Rampas, a former Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Festival beauty queen), who became the face of Warisan's youth during the election, has relinquished all positions from the party.
She appears to have distanced herself from the party, only saying that she is pursuing her doctorate at Unimas.
When asked about Rampas, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said it was her choice as members come and go.
"We have more new members joining than leaving. In Sandakan, some 500 members joined recently.
"We are expecting more to join in Kudat and other areas in the next few weeks," he said on Sunday (Aug 11).
Shafie said that Warisan gave her several chances to contest in three elections but she did not win any seat.
Rampas has not attended Warisan functions recently but was seen with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leaders, including Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
She relinquished all Warisan positions but did not state if she quit the party.
In a Facebook post on July 1, Joanna said: "I've taken a step back from all my political positions since last year as I'm back to studying for my PhD at Unimas.
"I haven't been involved in any politics on any party level of any kind since last year and don't plan to be for the time being while my thesis and research are in progress (at least another 18 months to two years).
"However, I will be engaging in conversation and sharing opinions regarding the current situation in Sabah's politics," she said.
