Warisan treasurer-general Terrence Siambun slammed Bangkuai, who is also PBS secretary-general, for the remark, saying the latter needed to “take a long hard look in the mirror before calling others hypocrite”.
“He seems to have forgotten PBS’ (Parti Bersatu Sabah) persistent stand on party hopping. Now, he decides to be critical of Warisan’s move to criticise Sebatik assemblyman who quit the party recently.
“Does that mean he and PBS now endorse party hopping?” he said, in a statement here today.
Bangkuai yesterday called out Shafie for “being a hypocrite” over Sebatik assemblyman Hassan A Gani Pg Amir for leaving his party in favour of GRS.
He pointed out that the former Sabah chief minister had himself accepted Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen who switched allegiances following the last general election (GE14) in May 2018.
Shafie then accepted not one but six BN assemblymen, he said, barely 24 hours after a chief minister was sworn in, thus forming a backdoor government with him being the new chief minister.
“It would seem that only Shafie has the licence to accept defecting elected representatives on the basis that they had lost confidence in the then democratically elected government.
“This is hypocrisy of the highest order by a man who is desperately hanging on to a sinking ship,” Bangkuai added.
Siambun claimed Hassan’s departure had nothing to do with a loss of confidence but due to inducement by GRS.
“Hassan was so taken up by the GRS offer that he ignored his own promises not only to the people of his constituency but also his personal religious commitment when he made the oath in the name of God,” he said.
Siambun also reminded Bangkuai that he was part of the group that sided with former chief minister Musa Aman in a failed power grab from the then Warisan-led state government.
He added that Bangkuai should know clearly what took place in July 2020 as he was part of the team to get state lawmakers to cross the floor.
“So, it seems that Bangkuai, when it is convenient for him, does not really subscribe to the PBS commitment and principled stand against party hopping.
“He should not use the GRS cap for his double-talk,” he said.
Siambun further added that the assemblymen who ditched BN for Warisan in 2018 came on their own free will, without any inducement or threat.