Mohamaddin joins Bersatu to bring progress to Lahad Datu
KOTA KINABALU: Lahad Datu member of parliament Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi said he joined Bersatu in the hope of bringing development to the parliamentary constituency.
The Segama assemblyman said he would not be able to fulfill all election pledges if he was still the opposition.
“I think the people there (Lahad Datu) understand better. When I was elected, the people expect something from me.
“As an opposition, (I will not) bring any development. In the next election, I will be asking for support from the people. What will they say?” he said in a video posted on Penerangan Bersatu Sabah’s Facebook page on Friday.
Muhamaddin said he made the decision to be part of the ruling government as he felt indebted to the voters who expected development.
“There are three years or more for me to serve. If I remain in the opposition, what can I expect?” he said.
“Will I be able to bring any development? In the next elections, I am going back to the people to ask for their support. What will they say?
“Doesn’t that tell us there is no point in going back to lobby for votes when you are unable to bring anything as an opposition member? I don’t think that would be proper.”
On Oct 30, Mohamaddin announced that he was quitting Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) as he wanted to focus on developing both Lahad Datu and Segama.
On Thursday, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the membership application of Mohamaddin was approved and accepted at the special Bersatu Supreme Council meeting.
Hamzah said the membership application of Mohamaddin was approved and accepted at the special Bersatu Supreme Council meeting on Thursday night that was chaired by its president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“Bersatu welcomes his membership because it will not only further strengthen the party’s position in the Sabah state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, but also provide a huge benefit to the development and welfare of the people in the Parliamentary and state assembly constituencies that he (Mohamaddin) represents,” Hamzah said in a statement on Thursday night.
Muhamaddin said when he became an independent, he was already thinking of joining a party that is aligned with the current government.
He added he would not have trouble working with Bersatu and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) member parties and leaders as they were ‘all friends’.
He said that most of the leaders in GRS are no stranger to him as he is a political veteran, and said that the reason for him being a representative for the people was to help them.
“That is why we must be part of the government if we really wish to help them improve economically and socially,” he said.