FORMER Umno leader Anifah Aman is set to form a party that will be part of a new opposition pact in Sabah, said sources.

They said the party’s main purpose is to fight for state rights.

The former foreign minister quit Umno on Wednesday, saying the Barisan Nasional lynchpin had failed Sabahans by not returning the state’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“He has always been fighting for this (equal rights for Sabahans),” a source told The Malaysian Insight.

“He is expected to form a new party soon, and will likely attract Umno and BN reps to join.

“What is important is to strengthen the state opposition, to reclaim Sabahans’ rights. Other parties will fight together with Anifah on this.”

Prior to leaving Umno, Anifah was a Supreme Council member and the party’s Kimanis division chief.

The Kimanis MP was the second leader to quit the party this week – a day earlier, senior Umno leader Mustapa Mohamed left, citing unhappiness with the party’s direction after its 14th general election loss.

Even during his time in Umno, Anifah had taken a lead role in demanding equal rights for Sabahans, urging Putrajaya to review MA63, said a source.

The formation of the new party follows the Pakatan Harapan administration’s announcement that more will be done to stick to MA63.

During the Malaysia Day celebrations in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said his government will make Sabah and Sarawak equal partners in the federation after a study on MA63 has been completed.

Sabah is now governed by the Mohd Shafie Apdal-led Parti Warisan Sabah, which is a PH ally.

The state Umno recently announced that it was breaking away from BN to form Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) along with Parti Bersatu Sabah and State Reform Party.

While the GBS parties have a common goal – fighting for equality for Sabahans – they are opposed to Shafie’s state government. – September 22, 2018.