Masidi (fourth left) receiving a basket of fruits during his visit at the fruit festival organized by the Luyang State Assemblyman Office while Hiew (third left) looks on.
KOTA KINABALU: Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu said he was offered by Matunggong and Kadamaian assemblymen Datuk Jelani Hamdan and Jeremy Majalad to join their new party, but he was not interested.
Hiew, who quit from DAP, said he would remain as an independent and his main focus now is on the people of Luyang.
“I was approached by Jelani and Jeremy at the recent State Assembly sitting and we had a little bit of discussion. He told me about setting up a new party but he did not mention the name of the party.
“I told them that I have my own responsibility and I am not interested to join them. I am not even considering,” he said to The Borneo Post at the fruit festival organized by the Luyang State Assemblyman Office, held at the Damai Community Hall yesterday.
Jelani and Jeremy resigned from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) recently.
Hiew said being independent is better, as the state government is assisting him for any requests or problems in his constituency.
“When I was in the opposition, I could not even use this hall to organize activities. Now the government has been very cooperative to me and my office everytime I ask for favour.
“I even have a number of proposals which I have submitted to the relevant authorities, and they are willing to listen to me. If I join Jeremy and Jelani in the new party, it will be the same like before because a new party will not be accepted in Barisan Nasional (BN),” said Hiew.
He explained if the new party is formed under BN, it will need seven votes (the seven BN component parties).
“If one of these seven said no, there will be no chance for any new party to join them. Once MCA or Gerakan said no, it won’t happen,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hiew proposed that the fruit festival be a place for the people in his constituency to gather once a month.
He said such programme would not only give them the opportunity to do business but also a platform for them to meet with old and new friends.
“I propose this Pesta Buah-Buahan (fruit festival) as a monthly event for Luyang people, and the place can be at Foh Sang area,” he said.
Although the fruit sellers were not as many as expected, Hiew said the response from the local community was very encouraging even though early December is not the fruit season in Sabah.
Apart from selling fruits and vegetables, the organizer also held a colouring competition for primary school children.
Present at the event yesterday was Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.