Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's scheduled weekend visit to Sabah is not in any way expected to influence a Barisan Nasional person from defecting and supporting Pakatan Rakyat.

NONE Sabah PKR chief Ahmad Thamrin Jaini ( left ) said the person has made up his mind and Sabahans are generally fed up with the BN.

"Najib's presence, I presume, is to announce the terms of reference for the royal commission of inquiry and it will not have an impact. Why announce only now, after Sabahans have been waiting for it for so long?

"The feeling on the ground is that Sabahans want change. Sabah is no longer BN's fixed deposit as it, along with the other Pakatan Rakyat states, plan to defeat BN's dominance in Parliament and take the federal government.

"Sabah hopes to put a dent on BN's dominance. We have done this before, when Sabah was ruled by the opposition," Ahmad Thamrin said in reference to PBS rule under Joseph Pairin Kitingan before switching to the ruling coalition.

He told told Malaysiakini that the movement on the ground was that the people wanted a change in the federal government, and they have seen it themselves.

He said with former housing and local government deputy minister  Lajim Ukin willingness to sacrifice his federal and Umno position along with perks to join this cause for Sabahans tells you something's not right with BN.

Lajim resigned his post from the Umno supreme council on July 28.

Similary, the state PKR leader said with Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing who joined Lajim in this cause has turned his back on his United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) post.

'Another coup for the opposition'

On the identity of the person intending to quit BN and whether there could be more, Ahmad Thamrin said for certain there is only one.

"He is from a BN component party and not from Umno. It will be another coup for the opposition," he said.

He said he could reveal more details as the whole thing involves political strategy. "But the person is sure to defect. I cannot say for now whether there will be others," he said.

NONE Ahmad Thamrin's sentiments were also echoed by PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin ( right) who said the mood in Sabah is changing.

"I have been spending a lot of time in Sabah and I can see the people want change and the BN cannot contain this tide further.

"I can also confirm that the BN component party person who wants to support Pakatan is not from Umno," he said.

Shamsul Iskandar said that the people are also attracted by the 20 percent oil royalty offer if Pakatan takes over the federal government and other policies that it can offer especially free education.

He also said that Lajim and Bumburing's support for Pakatan would not affect the opposition's seat allocation as the final say is in the hands of the Pakatan leadership.

"There maybe some squabbling but in the end everyone has to abide by the decision of the Pakatan leadership in terms of candidates and seat allocation," he said.

Shamsul Iskandar said Najib's visit to Kimanis near Beaufort and also Papar would not have much effect in stemming the tide of change.

"The change in Sabah is not leader-oriented but is from the ground as the grassroots hunger for change.

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