GE14 | BN can breathe a sigh of relief after incumbent Sepanggar lawmaker Jumat Idris who had been dropped from defending the seat put an end to the long drawn speculation that he will be defecting.

In a programme at his home tonight in Likas which was attended by over a thousand of his supporters, Jumat announced that he is still with BN.

He, however, initially said he could not say that he was staying loyal to Umno as he had been suspended.

"I could leave Umno anytime because Umno doesn't love me anymore," he said in reference to his suspension.

However, Jumat said he was contacted by caretaker minister Salleh Said Keruak who asked him why he did not pick up calls made to him as caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak "wanted to talk to him".

"The prime minister's press secretary (also) called me and said that the prime minister wanted to talk to me.

"When the prime minister called me, he said 'Salleh told me you are still loyal to me'.

"I said 'very much, I'm still your man, I'm loyal to you'."

Najib, he said, thanked him and asked for his help to retain Sepanggar.

"He told me, 'after the election come and see me'.

Jumat was suspended from Umno for three years after he criticised caretaker Sabah chief minister Musa Aman in a Facebook post.

Since then, he was also critical of several issues, including the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST).

Caretaker minister in the prime minister's department and incumbent Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan was chosen to replace Jumat (photo) for the seat of Sepanggar in this election.

Despite purported rivalries between Rahman and Salleh, who is now running for Kota Belud, the latter appeared to be instrumental in ensuring that Jumat stays with BN.

During the programme tonight, Salleh expressed gratitude over Jumat's decision to remain loyal.

"I told Najib, 'Jumat was suspended, we should reinstate him as he has proven his loyalty'."

As Salleh recounted the conversation he had with Najib, shouts of "tarik balik" (revoke) could be heard a few times.

"Najib said 'yes, we should'. I still have the SMS of Najib saying it so I'm holding on to this SMS to ensure that Jumat will continue to play a role in Umno."

Many had been disappointed, following news that Jumat had not been chosen by BN to defend his seat.

Said to be a hard-working MP and loved by his constituents, there was also speculation that he would be jumping to Parti Warisan Sabah.

In his speech, Jumat acknowledged how there were “Warisan friends” present tonight.

“But we agree to disagree,” he said.