After 34 years with PBS, Tandek rep quits party for Warisan

KOTA KINABALU: After 34 years with Parti Bersatu Sabah ( PBS), Tandek assemblyman Datuk Anita Baranting yesterday announced quitting the party and joining Parti Warisan Sabah ( Warisan).

She also quit her post as PBS Wanita chief which she held for two terms.

Anita submitted her membership form to Warisan president, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal at a brief ceremony which was also attended by Warisan vicepresidents, Datuk Jaujan Sambakong and Datuk Peter Anthony, here.

Also submitting their membership forms to join Warisan were members of the Tandek Squad, which was the election machinery for the Tandek constituency in the 14th General Election, comprising 50 community leaders including from PBS, Umno, MCA and Gerakan.

At a news conference, Anita said she made the decision to join Warisan after almost six months of observing the party’s direction and the people’s acceptance of the party in helming the state.

Anita, the first of PBS’ top leaders to quit the party, said her decision to join Warisan was her own and not influenced by anyone.

“We have decided to join Warisan as we wish to continue serving by assisting the government in all aspects of development in Sabah, especially in my area for the people to enjoy continued development.

“On the basis of caring for the people, we will pool our energy and capabilities to unite the people for this local party (Warisan) to remain relevant in their hearts,” she said.

Anita noted that she need not send a quit letter to the PBS top leadership because under the party’s constitution, any leader who joined another party would automatically lose his or her membership.

Meanwhile, Mohd Shafie who is also Sabah Chief Minister, said Warisan’s leadership including Upko, DAP and PKR in Tandek should give their full support to Anita in serving the people in the constituency.

He reminded all Warisan leaders not to indulge in too much politicking but to be united in propelling the state’s development to a higher level under Warisan’s administration in the interest of the people.

Anita joining Warisan brings the number of former Barisan Nasional assemblymen in the party to nine now. — Bernama