Ex-Umno rep joins Warisan

KOTA K INABALU: Sukau assemblyman Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (pic), who quit Umno in August and became an Independent representative, has officially joined Parti Warisan Sabah.

The three-term assemblyman said he decided to join Warisan as he felt that the party was the right platform in championing the rights of Sabahans according to the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“After nearly five months of being an independent politician, I think now is the right time for me to be with a party which can really help the Sabahans.

“I am also impressed by the Warisan president’s stand to not join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia or Pakatan Harapan, and instead work an as individual party,” he said yesterday.

Saddi said as Sukau assemblyman, he would continue to fight for some of the plans and blueprints to make the area a developed district by 2020.

He said among the development blueprints he had highlighted include the construction of Sukau’s second bridge, government offices as well as other infrastructure such as roads and schools.

The RM223mil second bridge was shot down by the then Barisan Nasional government after it received objections from numerous environmental groups and NGOs.

The proposed bridge across the Kinabatangan River is said to threaten one of the last sanctuaries of the rare Bornean pygmy elephant.

Meanwhile, four Umno MPs from the state are set to leave the party to become Independent reps and Pakatan-friendly.

Sources said two senators from the state would also leave Umno.