Armizan: Warisan now the 'haven for defectors' it accused GRS of being

PAPAR: Warisan’s decision to welcome defectors from other parties mirrors its past criticism of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which it once branded a “haven for defectors.”

GRS deputy secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said he could not explain the motives behind such political moves.

“I don’t know the reason, but from what I see, Warisan was among those who previously spread the narrative and made false accusations that GRS is a party of defectors or a nest for those who jump ship.

“Yet, if we look at recent developments, these defectors — including certain leaders from various parties, not just GRS but also Perikatan Nasional — are being welcomed with open arms, even celebrated in press conferences.

“So, as the saying goes, they don’t practise what they preach. When it doesn’t benefit them, they condemn party-hopping. But when it does, they embrace it.

“Nevertheless, it is their right, and the law does not prohibit non-elected members from switching parties,” he said.

He was speaking at a press conference at the Kawang Community Development Leaders Unit office here today.

Armizan said if the defections were due to frustration over not being chosen as election candidates, such moves could be seen as a form of “cleansing” within a party.

“I’m actually not interested in commenting, but if failing to be selected as a candidate is the reason behind some people’s decisions to leave, then perhaps it’s a form of internal cleansing.

“Our leaders must understand that our struggle isn’t about individual interests. Whoever is chosen as a candidate must be accepted — that’s very important. So it’s their right, and also Warisan’s right.

“For me, I thank Warisan for answering its own previous accusations against GRS. If they once labelled GRS as a nest for defectors, now they are normalising party-hopping by accepting leaders from other parties,” he said.

Armizan also said that Warisan had a history of political defections after the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018, which changed Sabah’s political landscape.

He said GRS would adopt a wait-and-see approach to determine whether the latest defectors would be fielded as candidates in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election (PRN17).

“I don’t want to speculate. We’ll wait and see on nomination day. If those who defected are fielded as candidates, then it’s clear that their defection was driven by a desire to become candidates,” he said.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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