GRS member Armizan denies betraying Bersatu

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Armizan Mohd Ali has denied double-crossing Bersatu president 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 told reporters yesterday.

Last Saturday, Sabah Chief Minister 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 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 at GE15.

Asked why he had 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 party membership.