The Karamunting assemblyman said he quit the Shafie Apdal-led party as he wants an end to the political instability in Sabah, The Borneo Post reported.

Hiew added that the political situation had caused development in the state to be stunted, including in his own constituency.

“The people are tired of the political turmoil in Sabah. Only with political stability can we bring development and change, especially in Karamunting which is in dire need of various reforms and development.

“For the sake of the development and well-being of the people of Karamunting, I have decided to support the leadership of the unity government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and also the Sabah government under the leadership of Hajiji Noor,” he was quoted as saying.

Hiew won the Karamunting seat on a Warisan ticket in the 14th general election (GE14) in May 2018 and in the state polls in September 2020.

He thanked Warisan president Shafie Apdal for giving him an opportunity to contest.

“However, now is the time to give full focus and attention to unify the people of Sabah, develop Sabah, and claim our rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“I will also contribute my energy and time to help my constituents and bring the necessary development to Karamunting,” he said.

Warisan now has 14 assemblymen in the 79-member Sabah state assembly.

Hiew is the fifth Warisan assemblyman to quit the party this year, after Awang Ahmad Sah (Petagas), Mohammad Mohamarin (Banggi), Chong Chen Bin (Tanjong Kapor) and Norazlinah Arif (Kunak).

His departure comes less than two months after the failed attempt to unseat Hajiji by Shafie and Sabah Barisan Nasional chief Bung Moktar Radin.

Five Umno assemblymen had also quit the party to join Gagasan Rakyat. They had earlier refused to join Bung in his effort to oust Hajiji as the chief minister on Jan 6.