LABUAN folks want to decide on the future of the island’s development, said its MP, Rozman Isli, who today defected from Umno to join Parti Warisan Sabah.

The former Labuan Umno chief said this could be achieved as the constituency was now in the hands of the state-based party.

“It marks a historic moment for us in Labuan, but we wish to be more flexible and therefore, wish for some kind of empowerment and control over the future of the island’s development,” he said after announcing he had joined Warisan today.

Present were Warisan’s deputy president, Darell Leiking, vice-president Junz Wong, secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr and Labuan Warisan chief coordinator Salim Abdul Rahman.

Leiking, meanwhile, viewed Rozman joining Warisan as fitting in a lost piece of the Sabah and Labuan puzzle.

He said three entities formed the Malaysian Borneo states – Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.

“So now, with Labuan in the picture, it has completed the puzzle,” he said.

Leiking said Sabah and Labuan could not be separated as both its people were connected socially and culturally, although Labuan folk could also manage on their own.

“The Federal Territories minister will soon pay a visit to Labuan and we, the Warisan leaders, will request that the minister focus more on Labuan’s development and decentralise policies related to the island’s development,” he said.

Rozman, meanwhile, said that when news of him leaving Umno leaked, several members of the Labuan division visited him at his home to wish him well.

“No, they did not try to convince me to stay. I had also not been offered any kind of reward to join Warisan.

“It was after making careful considerations and hearing the views of all parties that I made this decision.

“So, when the Umno members found out about it, some told me that I had made the right move. It’s not just them; my friends from Pakatan Harapan also said I made the right decision,” said Rozman, adding that the Labuan Umno division remained intact despite him leaving the party.

He said his former post was now being taken over by his deputy, adding that Warisan needed Umno as the opposition to keep them in check. – October 11, 2018.