PUCHONG, Dec 15 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali has denied double-crossing Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin by opting to become a direct member of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
He said he chose to be a GRS member due to Sabahans’ sentiment of preferring to be led by a local party.
“Now the sentiment in Sabah is for us to move as a local party. Judging by the current political landscape in Malaysia, we can champion the Sabah agenda more effectively through a local coalition,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after meeting non-governmental organisation Rakan Nadma and visiting the National Disaster Control Centre here today.
Last Saturday, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is GRS chairman, said Sabah Bersatu leaders had unanimously decided to leave Bersatu but would remain under GRS.
Armizan, who was involved in drafting the GRS Constitution, said the coalition had provisions for individuals to be its direct members and for a union of parties.
He reiterated that he had joined GRS as a direct member in October, before the 15th General Election (GE15).
Armizan won the Papar parliamentary seat on a GRS ticket in GE15.
Asked why he joined GRS when he was still a member of Bersatu, Armizan said the Federal Constitution and Societies Act 1966 did not forbid people from joining several political parties.
Armizan said he had not received any notification from Bersatu regarding the status of his membership in the party.
