KOTA BELUD: Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the departure of Parti Warisan Sabah's (Warisan) Kukusan assemblyman will not weaken the party or its support in constituencies such as Tawau and Kalabakan.
The Warisan president was commenting on Rina Jainal who announced she was leaving the party to join Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS).
Apart from being Kukusan's elected representative, Rina was also the party's Wirawati vice chief.
"There have been various measures taken to suppress and weaken Warisan. But, Insya-Allah it is still strong," Shafie told a press conference after attending the party's Kaamatan Open House at the Kadamaian Square hall, near here today.
As for the action to be taken against Rina, Shafie said that she would receive the same fate as the five assemblymen who had earlier left Warisan.
"Some of them were brought to court because of the agreement we had.
"That (bringing it to court) is definitely going to be an action we're taking," he said.
In October last year, Rina rubbished rumours that she was leaving Warisan. In a statement shared on her Facebook page at the time, Rina had said: Tiada istilah keluar parti di pihak ADUN KUKUSAN. Saya masih teguh bersama kepimpinan DSSA dan juga WARISAN. (On the part of the Kukusan assemblyman, there is no such thing as leaving the party. I still strongly stand with the leadership of DSSA and Warisan.)
She deemed the rumours as an attempt to weaken the supporters, expressing confidence that her supporters would not be easily duped. She cited her close ties with her constituents and her supporters through her series of visits as the basis of her confidence.
Previously, five Warisan assemblymen left the party. They were Hassan A Gani Pg Amir (Sebatik) Datuk Dr Yusof Yaacob (Sindumin), Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi (Segama) , Datuk Peter Anthony (Melalap) and Datuk Nuil Juatim (Limbahau).
With the latest development, Warisan is now left with 18 seats in the 73-seat state assembly.
