KOTA KINABALU: Paginatan State Assemblyman Datuk Rusdin Riman has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the Democratic Prosperity Party of the People (KDM) and his resolute backing of party President Priscella Peter.
He emphasised that any decisions made by KDM’s top leadership, including the party’s strategic direction for the 16th General Election (PRU16), will consistently receive his full respect and support in service of both the party’s interests and the people’s welfare.
Clarifying further, Rusdin stressed that his recent remarks regarding his government position during an event in Ranau should not be misinterpreted as a shift in his stance or an attempt to distance himself from the party.
Rather, he explained that those comments stemmed from his capacity and responsibility as a people’s representative dedicated to safeguarding the needs and interests of Paginatan constituents, particularly in advancing development initiatives throughout the constituency.
“My loyalty to KDM and President Priscella Peter is absolute and undivided. My previous statement reflects my commitment to ensuring that the Paginatan state assembly area continues to receive proper attention and remains integrated within the broader development agenda.
“I respect and uphold the party’s decisions and will continue to move forward alongside KDM’s leadership,” he stated through a media release today.
Rusdin stressed that championing the people’s interests represents the genuine mandate he carries as their representative, while matters concerning political positioning and direction are entirely entrusted to the wisdom and collective decisions of party leadership.
Previously, on August 14, KDM announced its decision to withdraw support from the state government under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
When announcing the matter, Priscella emphasized that the decision was unanimously finalized by prioritizing party interests, while simultaneously establishing a foundation to restore transparency and grassroots trust.
She further stressed that KDM bears the responsibility of rebuilding public confidence as a strategic preparation for the upcoming elections, rather than merely taking action when parliamentary or state assembly terms approach dissolution.
To address the challenges of PRU16, KDM has chosen not to operate in isolation.
Instead, the party has opened dialogue channels to forge strategic partnerships with local parties, creating a powerful political coalition grounded in Sabah’s rights and interests.
Additionally, KDM has been linked to potential collaborative arrangements with Warisan (Warisan Party) and STAR (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku), though no official announcement has been made regarding this matter to date.
