Sabah's Kimanis MP Anifah Aman (above) will not be joining any of the "national" political parties and is prepared to form a new political party that will pursue greater rights for Sabah in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

According to a source close to Anifah, the former Umno leader believes that political parties with roots in peninsular Malaysia did not have the interest of Sabahans and Sarawakians at heart.

"He left Umno because he wants the original spirit of MA63 to be respected [...] he wants it to be the basis of the Federation of Malaysia, one that is united and progressive as envisaged by the founders of the country in 1963," said the source.

The source added that Anifah also supported efforts by the Sarawak government to form a committee comprising Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to review how the MA63 was being implemented.

Anifah was the first MP to leave Sabah Umno. He has since been joined by five others and nine state assemblypersons. The latter have stated their support for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

 Anifah has not made a similar loyalty pledge.

Bersatu appears to have extended overtures to this group that left Sabah Umno on Wednesday. Mahathir has indicated he is agreeable to the idea of opening Pakatan Harapan's doors to former Umno lawmakers.