Mohammadin Ketapi quits Bersatu after only six months and will be an independent backing the current federal and Sabah state governments.
Bersatu has lost another MP following Mohamaddin Ketapi’s departure today.
Mohamaddin told a press conference in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah that he decided to leave Bersatu because he was being sidelined.
He claimed he was not allowed to lead the party’s Lahad Datu and Segama chapters as earlier promised.
“I was promised a role to lead the party in my constituency but six months later there was no role for me,” he said.
He also pointed out that he did not receive cooperation from existing leaders in the constituency.
“Both me and my supporters were interested in joining Bersatu through these divisions, but they were rejected. They only allowed applications as members, but refused to open new branches as agreed,” he said adding that the Bersatu division had not invited him to any of their activities.
“Before I joined the party, I met with the chief minister and Sabah Bersatu chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and we agreed on a reshuffling of leaders at the division and branches where I could bring my supporters so that the new and old members could work together.
“But up to today, none of the things we discussed have come to fruition, and allocation for the Segama constituency was also not given,” he said.
Mohamaddin is both the Lahad Datu MP and Segama assemblyperson.
He further added that his share of allocations may have been intentionally delayed as others had already received theirs.
Mohamaddin also showed his displeasure towards Lahad Datu Bersatu chief Abdul Hakim Gulam Hassan and sarcastically “congratulated” him for “acting as if he was the Lahad Datu MP and Segama assemblyman” despite losing the race for the Silam state seat the 2020 state elections.
Asked if he was worried about the public’s perception of his principles over him leaving one party so soon after another, the 65-year-old said he was not concerned about the matter.
“Many will call this a ‘katak’ (party-hopping) move, but why should I stay there doing nothing? Bukan mau tunggu bertelur (not waiting to lay eggs)…we should work for the rakyat.
“I am not worried about that. If you want to call me a katak or monkey, just do so, I don’t care.
“If a katak which has no education, the person will jump for nothing, but a katak with education will keep on jumping for the people,” he said.
Prior to Bersatu, Mohamaddin was with Warisan but he quit the party in November last year.
According to Parliament’s website, there are currently 32 MPs from Bersatu.
With Mohamaddin’s departure, along with Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang) and Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo), Bersatu will be left with 29 seats when the Dewan Rakyat reconvenes on July 18.