Latest news with #Kunak
Daily Express
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
YB to sue over drug cartel funds claim
Published on: Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Published on: Wed, Aug 20, 2025 Text Size: Norazlinah, a former Warisan leader, had earlier rubbished the claims made in a viral TikTok video, saying the allegations were a deliberate attempt to damage her reputation and erode public trust in her as the Kunak assemblyman. Kota Kinabalu: Kunak Assemblyman Datuk Norazlinah Arif plans to take legal action against those accusing her and her husband of receiving funds from a drug cartel in Sabah. She said she had appointed a lawyer to commence this process, adding that she opted to stay silent about accusations made against her before this as she did not want to waste time with legal matters. Advertisement The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) assemblyman said she had wanted to focus on carrying out her responsibilities for the people of Kunak, whom she has been representing since 2018. 'However, I cannot compromise with the excessive slander this time as it also implicates my family,' she said. 'From now on, I will leave all matters related to this slander completely to my team of lawyers to take appropriate legal action.' Norazlinah, a former Warisan leader, had earlier rubbished the claims made in a viral TikTok video, saying the allegations were a deliberate attempt to damage her reputation and erode public trust in her as the Kunak assemblyman. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Warisan dodging its role in Kinabalu Move, says Sabah rep
Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif said the clear evidence was that all Warisan assemblymen were gathered at the Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort at the time. PETALING JAYA : A Sabah state assembly member has hit back at Warisan leader Shafie Apdal for dodging her claim that Warisan had a direct role in the Kinabalu Move of January 2023 which attempted but failed to unseat Hajiji Noor as Sabah chief minister. Norazlinah Arif, the assembly member for Kunak, who left Warisan shortly afterwards, said: 'The reality is every Sabahan knows he was directly involved.' She said Shafie made a particularly vague response to her by simply denying his role in the Kinabalu Move without presenting facts and instead resorting to making personal jabs at her. 'The clear evidence is when all Warisan assemblymen were gathered at the Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort at the time. Why didn't he dare to give facts to deny Warisan's role in the move? Why did he just make a vague statement?' she told FMT. Shafie had been scheduled to hold a press conference at the resort amid talk that Hajiji's government was about to collapse. The event was later cancelled, although members of the media and Warisan assemblymen were gathering there. The following day, Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin, then a deputy chief minister, announced that Sabah Umno had withdrawn support for Hajiji. However, several Umno assemblymen refused to toe the party line, while Hajiji also received the backing of Pakatan Harapan. Bung was then sacked from the state Cabinet while PH assemblymen were brought into Hajiji's Cabinet. Norazlinah had described the Kinabalu Move as the ultimate betrayal of Sabahans, when they were hoping that the federal unity pact would also translate into unity in the state government to prioritise the rakyat. Shafie maintained that it was not his political move, but stemmed from a conflict between Hajiji and Bung. 'We were in the opposition benches all the while,' he had said. Norazlinah mocks 'traitor' label, fires back at Azis Norazlinah fired back after being labelled as a 'traitor' to Warisan. She said the party's leaders and elected representatives were also mostly 'traitors' in their own right. Shafie was formerly an Umno vice-president, his deputy, Darell Leiking, was from PKR, and the party also accepted DAP assemblymen Justin Wong (Sri Tanjong) and Calvin Chong (Elopura), in 2022. Norazlinah also said Warisan information chief Azis Jamman should 'focus on his own problems', after he cynically said he would help her lobby for a seat to contest on a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah ticket in the coming state elections. She said Azis should be the one looking for a seat after having lost his Sepanggar parliamentary seat in the 2022 general election. Azis also does not hold a state seat. 'Unlike him, I don't need to lobby (for a seat) by making statements. My hard work in Kunak is already proof (of my service) and will determine whether I will be re-elected by the people or not,' said Norazlinah, a two-term assembly member. 'I hope the people of Sabah will evaluate (Warisan) wisely and not be influenced by the slander they throw around. Don't repeat past mistakes,' she said.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Kunak rep pooh-poohs drug cartel ties claims
Published on: Monday, August 18, 2025 Published on: Mon, Aug 18, 2025 By: FMT Text Size: Norazlinah said she has instructed her legal team to take immediate action against the TikTok account owner and anyone who spreads the allegations. PETALING JAYA: Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif has rubbished claims in a viral TikTok video that she and her husband had received funds from a drug cartel in Sabah. Norazlinah, formerly of Warisan, dismissed the claims as baseless and malicious. Checks found that the video in question cannot be accessed on TikTok anymore. 'I firmly deny these slanderous claims in the strongest terms. All the allegations involving my husband and I are untrue, malicious in intent, defamatory, and an attempt to tarnish my reputation as the Kunak assemblyman,' she said in a statement. The Kunak Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah chief said neither she nor her husband had ever been involved in drug activities in any way. She said the allegations were a deliberate attempt to damage her reputation and erode public trust. Norazlinah said she has instructed her legal team to take immediate action against the TikTok account owner and anyone who spreads the allegations. 'As the assemblyman for Kunak, I will continue to focus on fulfilling my mandate and serving the people, unaffected by irresponsible attempts to discredit me,' said the two-term representative. Norazlinah won the Kunak state seat on a Warisan ticket in 2018 and 2020. She was formerly head of the party's women's wing. She left the party in February 2023 to join Gagasan Rakyat, a component of ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Kinabalu Move' was about state govt posts, says Kunak rep
Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif said the formation of a new state government was never once discussed among the party's elected representatives prior to the failed Kinabalu Move in January 2023. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A Sabah assemblyman, who was formerly with Warisan, has claimed there was nothing altruistic about the 'Kinabalu Move' – an attempt led by Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Bung Moktar Radin to dislodge Hajiji Noor as chief minister. In a podcast, Norazlinah Arif recalled that Warisan assemblymen were summoned to attend a press conference at a hotel in Kota Kinabalu several days before the failed 'coup'. She said the assemblymen were told that Warisan would be part of a new state government, leaving them in shock, as the matter was never once discussed among the party's elected representatives. At the time, some assemblymen questioned why they should back Bung over Hajiji, Norazlinah said. The Kunak assemblyman claimed that they were then informed that if they backed the Bung-led coup, four or five Warisan leaders would be named to the state Cabinet. 'We knew the four who would be made ministers,' she said, without identifying them. 'That means the move to topple the government had nothing to do with the rakyat. It was about wanting government posts,' she said. Norazlinah, who quit the Shafie Apdal-led party in February 2023, also claimed there were plans for a second coup after the first one failed. In January 2023, Bung, the Sabah Umno chief, announced that the party was withdrawing its support for Hajiji. However, six Umno assemblymen pledged continued support for Hajiji, foiling Bung's plans which had the backing of Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat. Pakatan Harapan and GRS assemblymen also pledged their undivided support for Hajiji, who has been in office since the state election in September 2020. Bung was subsequently dropped as the state's deputy chief minister. Earlier this month, Sabah Umno deputy chief Abdul Rahman Dahlan suggested that Sabah BN's pullout from the state government was a needless mistake.
Daily Express
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Kunak candidate up to Chief Minister: Usno division head
Published on: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025 By: Ibrahim Tabir Text Size: KUNAK: The United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) Kunak Division is prepared to leave the decision on the most suitable candidate for the Kunak seat to the discretion of the Chief Minister and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. Usno Kunak Division Chief Hussein Ibnu Hassan said candidate selection should be based on grassroots majority sentiment, taking into account current issues being raised by opposition parties. 'The selection must also consider local issues, including any controversies involving specific individuals. To ensure the election machinery can effectively counter these issues, the candidate chosen should not only be popular, but also free from any perceptions or controversies that could undermine public support,' he told Daily Express, Tuesday. He said Usno is open to accepting any decision by the GRS Chairman regarding which component party will contest in any given seat, including the Kunak seat. 'We are open to the decision, but it is important that the individual chosen is not entangled in multiple issues or controversies, as that could affect the candidate's chances of winning,' he added. Hussein, who is also Usno Vice President, said as a GRS component party in Kunak, Usno maintains good relations with fellow coalition parties, including Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), even though there may occasionally be differences of opinion. 'Differences of opinion are normal in any party, but Usno is confident that minor internal issues among component parties can be resolved, unless they involve individuals entangled in controversies beyond the party's control,' he said. 'If the incumbent from Gagasan Rakyat is fielded again to contest in Kunak, we leave the decision to the voters during the election. Let them decide,' he said. He also said Usno had previously submitted a proposal through its President for an Usno candidate to contest the Kunak seat. 'Ultimately, the final decision rests with the GRS Chairman on which component party will contest here,' he added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
