KOTA KINABALU, Feb 6 — In another blow to the state Opposition, three Parti Warisan state assemblymen are believed to have quit the party.

The three assemblymen — Tanjung Kapur’s Ben Chong Chen Bin, Banggi’s Mohammad Mohamarin and Kunak’s Norazlinah Arif — made the announcement via video.

In the clip, they said that they will be independent lawmakers supporting the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Malay Mail reached out to all three for confirmation but they were not contactable at the time of writing.

In the one-minute-and-26-second long video that is being shared on social media, Norazlinah, flanked by Mohamarin and Chong, read a statement to say that the they were leaving the party and opting to render their services as independent assemblymen supporting the state government.

Norazalinah also said that they were relinquishing any posts within the party.

"We believe it is now time to end the political polemic and instability that has been going on because it affects the development of the state and the people.

"We will work with the chief minister and the state government to continue the positive development momentum,” she said.

She also apologised to the party president, colleagues and supporters of Warisan.

In another segment of the video, Chong and Mohamarin were also seen signing a piece of paper believed to be the statement.

Presumably, Warisan will now have 16 assemblymen in the 79-seat Sabah assembly.