Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Lee Kuok Tiung said the defections would be driven by Umno’s leadership crisis and a growing belief the party was a “sinking ship”.

He was commenting on the defection of five Sabah Umno assemblymen to Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah yesterday.

Lee said there was a major split in Umno, under the leadership of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, especially after the sackings and suspensions of top leaders.

He said the division within the party would likely worsen following the barring of contests for the two top posts in the Umno elections.

“These leaders who left the party do not see Umno as having a future or having enough time to rebuild support before the next Sabah state election,” he told FMT.

“Sabah Umno’s prospects look bleak because they are losing people in positions of power.”

The five who quit were Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Jasni Daya ( Pantai Dalit), Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk), Hamid Awang (Balung) and James Ratib (Sugut).

James is a state minister while Yusof is the chairman of state investment arm Qhazanah Sabah Bhd.

Lee believed Hajiji was confident of his support and would have no issues accepting Umno defectors even though the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition led by him is allied to Barisan Nasional at the state and federal levels.

“Hajiji has the support of the majority of Sabah assemblymen, regardless of what federal leaders may want, and he knows that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is aware of this,” he said.

Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said the defection of the Umno assemblymen to Hajiji’s party was “in line with Sabah’s political tradition” where many elected representatives would prefer to align themselves with the government of the day.

Like Lee, Oh also expects more from Umno to jump ship.

He said that in Sabah, anything was possible, including a reversal of political fortunes.

Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin, who had attempted to topple Hajiji, would have to wait a bit longer before mounting his next move, he added.