The party’s secretary-general Christy Chok said the decision was made after the party’s Supreme Council accepted the findings of its disciplinary committee, which completed its investigations on June 29.

She said Rina had violated party discipline and made public statements that allegedly damaged the image of the party and its president.

“Although Harapan Rakyat initially gave her room to explain herself, her continued actions have tarnished the party’s reputation to the extent that people, especially in Kukusan, were influenced by slander and accusations against the party and the president,” Sabah Media quoted her as saying in a statement yesterday.

Chok also said the party had decided not to renominate Rina to defend the Kukusan state seat, following consultation with its Supreme Council and branch leaders.

She said that during her nearly two years with Harapan Rakyat, Rina had failed to promote or represent the party in community activities and constituency programmes.

“This includes not displaying the party’s logo and flag at her service centre, as required of all elected representatives under the party,” she added.

She said following complaints from grassroots members, the party had tasked Kukusan division chief Samsiah Usman with continuing party work and assisting residents in the area, including through efforts to gazette four villages in the Old Airport area of Tawau.

“The incumbent’s failure to move in line with the party’s direction has hampered Harapan Rakyat’s efforts to champion this issue,” Chok said.

Rina was formerly with Warisan before leaving the party in 2022 to join Harapan Sabah, which is part of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.