Sebatik Rep Claims Anti Defection Oath Invalid Made Under Duress

---

 


Sebatik assemblyperson Hassan A Gani Pg Amir admitted that he made an oath last year to resign from office if he left Warisan.
However, he claimed the pledge was made under duress and is thus invalid.
“Yes, I have indeed made an oath, but the oath is invalid because I was under duress.
“If I had not sworn the oath, I would not be placed as (election) candidate. I support Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) for the people of Sebatik,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Hassan had defected from Warisan and pledged support for GRS on Thursday last week. He also said he supports the leadership of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
In doing so, he accused Warisan of giving priority to politics over the wellbeing of the people.
GRS is a coalition comprising Perikatan Nasional, BN, and Parti Bersatu Sabah; they currently have the support of 48 assemblypersons out of 79.
Since his defection, a video was circulated online that purportedly shows Hassan swearing that if he is elected as assemblyperson, he will remain in Warisan at least until the dissolution of the state assembly.
Otherwise, he said he would resign from his office and even signed his resignation letter in advance.
“I will not betray Warisan and voters’ trust upon me. If I choose to join another political party or declare allegiance towards another party or declare myself as an independent assemblyperson […] I will resign my post as Sabah assemblyperson.
“And, to show my sincerity, I hereby sign my resignation letter that will be handed to the Sabah state assembly speaker and the Sabah governor if I breach my oath of allegiance,” he said in the video, which was purportedly recorded on Sept 10, 2020.
The date coincided with the date when Warisan and its allies announced their election candidates ahead of the Sabah state election on Sept 26.


 - Mkini

---