This comes barely a month after he quit Upko, which is Warisan’s ally in the Sabah government, on Nov 24 to become a government-friendly independent.
He claimed then that he and the top leadership could no longer see eye to eye on issues.
Speaking to reporters during a Warisan Christmas open house in Tenom today, the former Upko vice-president said he had to make a quick decision in view of the fast changing political developments.
“Normally, we will take two or three months to decide on the next direction but I feel it is not fair to the people of Kuamut if we delay this decision.
“We decided on this after taking into consideration views and advice from colleagues in my area and the political scenario post-GE14 which clearly signals that Sabahans want a party that represents all races.
“In other words, there is a big possibility that parties that are race-based will not have a place in people’s hearts in the future,” Masiung said.
“Warisan is the one and only multiracial party that can meet the needs of Sabahans,” the former Kinabatangan Upko chief added.
The two-term assemblyman was one of four Upko reps who obeyed the party’s Supreme Council decision to change their allegiance from Barisan Nasional to the Warisan-Pakatan Harapan alliance in Sabah soon after the May 9 polls.
He is the second assemblyman to leave the party. Upko accepted Nabawan assemblyman Bobbey Suan’s resignation in October. Suan is tipped to join Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku.
Masiung said he was bringing almost 100 of his members from Kinabatangan into Warisan, adding that 94 of the 108 branches from the division that quit Upko on Nov 24 had pledged to follow him and join Warisan.
“I did not have the opportunity or time to travel to all the areas to explain my decision but we will go there after this,” he said.
Tenom Warisan chief Peter Anthony, who is also Sabah infrastructure development minister, thanked Masiung for joining his party.
“This is a pleasant surprise to us. Like he said, after this, race-based parties will likely be rejected by the people.”
Warisan secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr said the party would go through the applications into the party by Masiung and his followers, just like other politicians who had applied.