FOUR Sabah Barisan Nasional MPs are leaving Umno today to become independents supporting the federal government, said party sources.

State Umno liaison committee chairman Hajiji Noor is also expected to announce the dissolution of the party’s state chapter today.

“Barring any obstacle, all this will take place today (December 11),” a source told The Malaysian Insight.

Currently, Umno has five MPs from Sabah.

They are Abd Rahim Bakri who represents Kudat, Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), Zakaria Mohd Edris (Libraran) and Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan).

However, a source said controversial Bung Moktar is set to remain in the party and will not follow his colleagues out of Umno.

In the 14th general election, Umno Sabah won eight parliamentary seats out of 26 up for grabs in the state.

In the contest for the state legislative assembly, BN won 17 seats but soon after, four assemblymen left and became independents. The remaining 13 assemblymen in the party are also expected to make a decision on their future today.

However, Kimanis MP Anifah Aman and Labuan MP Rozman Isli walked out in September and October, respectively.

While Anifah remains an independent, Rozman joined Warisan in early November.

“Due to the unique economic conditions in Malaysia now and compared with other parliamentary constituencies in the country, I have made this decision.

“In a nutshell, Labuan needs to be empowered to move ahead fast and quick,” he said then.

Adding to the party’s woes, its Sipitang MP, Yamani Hafez Musa, has yet to take his oath as a member of parliament.

He has until January 15, after which Parliament has to declare the seat vacant and call for a by-election.

The four MPs set to dump Umno are forced to take this course of action for their political survival.

A source told The Malaysian Insight Sabah was a huge state and they are finding it difficult to serve their constituents without financial support from the state or federal government.

To continue to be effective, the source said, their best option is to leave and eventually join Warisan or Bersatu.

BN Sabah crumbled after the last elections after the state Umno and three other parties formed the Gabungan Bersatu Sabah coalition.

GBS is currently chaired by former deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan from Parti Bersatu Sabah.

The others in the coalition are Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star Sabah) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS). – December 11, 2018.