BEAUFORT: Another Umno leader here, Ruandi Basnih, has resigned and joined Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPPS), a newly established political movement affiliating itself with opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat.
The Beaufort Wanita Umno deputy chief announced she has left the party in a leaders with the people gathering at Kampung Pansung here, further fueling the Umno leadership crisis in the division.
Ruandi added her name to a list of Umno leaders and members here who have switched side to the opposition, following former division chief Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Lajim Ukin’s resignation from all his positions in BN and the government.
They included former People’s Development Leader of Klias, Ustaz Saidin Musih and Community Development Officer Ansir Danih, who both have also joined Lajim-led PPPS.
Met at the event, Ruandi said she believed a major political shift will be taking place in the coming general election, starting from Sabah and then the rest of Malaysia.
She added that the people in the State needed to make a change to fight for their rights to equal development and their rights to better benefit from their rich natural resources taken out of Sabah.
“Sabah has been left too far behind in terms of development despite the fact that its rich natural resources have contributed significantly to the country’s economy.
“The overall living quality of the people, given the high rate of poverty, does not reflect the State’s status as Barisan Nasional fixed-deposit.
“I have been less active politically due to my health problems, but I can see there has been no positive development in the struggle of Wanita Umno in this division where personal interests and cronies seemed more important,” she said.
She added that Wanita Umno leadership here has also failed to create teamwork within the movement, leaving it unable to serve the constituency effectively.
Meanwhile, Lajim in welcoming Ruandi and her followers into PPPS, said this has been a growing positive response to the movement’s struggle to reconstruct the political landscape in Sabah.
“Positive responses are coming not only from within the constituency, but also from all the other districts in the State as well as Peninsular Malaysia that we have visited.
“The support for our struggle to bring changes for a better future is loud and clear,” he said.
He said PPPS would continue its tour together with Pakatan Rakyat to explain its agendas and discuss development and economic issues affecting the people in Sabah.
The event was also attended by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Beaufort chief Ramlee @ Abd Jarih Haji Ukin, PPPS Women chief Hajah Johair Matlani, PKR Beaufort deputy chief Tahufeck Haji Ruchi and for Klias PKR candidate Abdul Rahman Yakub.