Warisan vice-president quits party

Melalap assemblyman Peter Anthony who is also Warisan vice-president today announced that he has quit the party.

Peter, 50, also announced that he would form a new party that will forge close cooperation with the state government led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.

He said he made the decision to quit Warisan after finding that the party had gone astray in its struggle for the rights and well-being of the people of Sabah when it spread its wings to the peninsula.

“It’s high time for us leaders in Sabah to set our political differences aside to develop our beloved state.

“The people of Sabah need a party that really fights for the rights of Sabahans. That’s the most important for us. There’s no use of having such a party outside Sabah,” he told reporters today.

Also present was Limbahau assemblyman Juil Nuatim.

Warisan is now left with 18 seats in the state assembly. Three of its assemblymen – Hassan A Gani Pg Amir (Sebatik), Yusof Yacob (Sindumin) and Mohammadin Ketapi (Segama) who is also Lahad Datu MP – quit the party and became independent representatives earlier this year.

The party also lost its Bugaya seat following the death of Manis Muka Mohd Darah.

In the 16th state election last year, Peter contested on a Warisan ticket and won the Melalap seat with a 1,719-vote majority in a six-cornered fight.

He said the recently concluded Sarawak election which saw Gabungan Parti Sarawak win big was the best example of people preferring their own local leaders to develop their state.

“Let Sarawak be led by Sarawak leaders, Kuala Lumpur by Kuala Lumpur leaders, Negeri Sembilan by Negeri Sembilan leaders, Penang by Penang leaders. As for us in Sabah, we, as leaders must stay focused and develop Sabah together,” he said.

Peter also denied that he made the decision because of his ongoing document forgery trial, saying that it was out of respect for the people’s voice.