Defectors claim Gagasan approved PKR jump, Hajiji says it was duo's decision

Two Sabah PKR candidates who jumped over from Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan) claimed that it was done with the latter's blessings.

However, Gagasan president Hajiji Nor appeared to suggest it was the two candidates - Jamawi Jaafar and George Hiew - who made the decision.

Jamawi (above, left) and Hiew (above, right) told reporters last night that their joining PKR was a sign of cooperation with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

Jamawi claimed there were careful negotiations before the decision was made.

“There was full agreement between leaders in GRS and Pakatan Harapan.

“It was done voluntarily, with no element of betrayal. My division chief Herbert (Lagadan) is my strongest supporter - so there’s no such thing as a parachute candidate here,” he said after PKR unveiled its candidates.

He said the arrangement reflected the broader aim of strengthening cooperation between the federal and state governments, particularly in constituencies like Melalap, where he is contesting.

Previously, Jamawi won the Kemabong seat under BN in 2018, but then defected to Warisan after the election.

In 2020, he switched back to BN when Musa Aman staged a coup against the then-Warisan-led government. He later joined Hajiji's Gagasan party.

Hiew - who will be defending his Karamunting seat - claimed that Hajiji had personally endorsed his switch to PKR.

"For me, it’s good cooperation between the state and the federal side. Even my former party president gave me his full support,” he said.

“The symbol doesn’t matter. What matters is that we deliver and shake up the current government. The people of Karamunting know what I’ve done for them,” he also said.

‘Let it be’

When met by reporters today, Hajiji said it was the duo's right to switch parties.

“This is their democratic right. They have become PKR members, so they can no longer be part of GRS. We’ve already let them go,” he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu Monday morning.

“We can’t stop them, and we can’t encourage them either. It’s their democratic choice - that’s politics in Sabah. Let it be,” he said.

Despite this, Hajiji said GRS will still provide support to the duo.

“Of course, we will support them because they are PKR candidates, our partners in the government,” Hajiji said.

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