Rahman Dahlan cries foul as more reps defect to Warisan

Umno supreme council member Abdul Rahman Dahlan has cried foul over the continuous defection of Sabah assemblypersons to Warisan, which is part of the state's ruling coalition.

The latest defections were Parti Bersatu Sabah's (PBS) Tandek assemblyperson Anita Baranting to Warisan yesterday and Umno's Balung assemblyperson Osman Jamal on March 4.

"Sabah Umno regrets the endemic phenomenon of party-hopping in Sabah... Party hopping makes Sabah a laughing stock in the eyes of the world as it is so widespread that people feel there is no point of having an election if elected representatives can simply betray their choice," he said in a statement today.

Both Umno and PBS were part of the previous ruling coalition of the state under BN, which collapsed following its defeat in the 14th general election.

Rahman said there was nothing to be ashamed about being in the opposition as it was an important responsibility in a democracy.

"If there is no opposition, then the government can do whatever it wishes," he said.

The former minister also dismissed justifications that the representatives were defecting so that their constituencies will continue to see development.

In reality, he claimed, it was for position and power.

Rahman, who was defeated in the Sepanggar parliamentary seat in the last general election, questioned why the elected representatives were defecting to the government which has cut or reduced various subsidies to the people.

He said the defectors should resign to allow a by-election and also urged the people to reject them if they stayed on until the next general election.

Read more: Malaysiakini tracks MPs who have defected since GE14