MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Armizan Mohd Ali has denied double-crossing Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin by opting to become a direct member of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

He said he chose to be a GRS member due to the Sabah people’s sentiment of preferring to be led by a local party.

“Now the sentiment in Sabah is for us to move as a local party,” he said.

“Judging by the current political landscape in Malaysia, we can champion the Sabah agenda more effectively through a local coalition.”

Armizan was speaking to reporters after meeting civil society organisation Rakan Nadma and visiting the National Disaster Control Centre in Puchong today.

Last Saturday, Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, who is GRS chairman, said Sabah Bersatu leaders had unanimously decided to leave Bersatu but would remain under GRS.

Armizan, who was involved in drafting the GRS constitution, said the coalition has provisions for individuals to be its direct members and for a union of parties.

He reiterated that he joined GRS as a direct member in October, before the recent general election.

Armizan won the Papar parliamentary seat on the GRS ticket in the polls.

Asked why he joined GRS when he was still a member of Bersatu, Armizan said the Federal Constitution and Societies Act 1966 did not forbid people from joining several political parties.

Armizan said he has not received any notification from Bersatu regarding the status of his membership in the party. – Bernama, December 15, 2022.