Sabah DAP deputy chief Edwin Bosi has quit the party, citing irreconcilable differences with state DAP leader Stephen Wong. 

"It is only fair that, as reconciliation is not possible, I have to withdraw to allow the harmony within Sabah DAP to persist. 

"The failed 'Shanghai handshake' is the cornerstone of my decision to leave," Bosi said in a statement today. 

The "Shanghai handshake" refers to a meeting in 2015 between rival Sabah DAP factions in Shanghai. This agreement was meant to stabilise the party leadership ahead of the next general election.

Bosi is aligned to a faction led by former Sabah DAP leader Jimmy Wong and is at odds with the present leader Stephen Wong.

In late May, Sabah DAP suspended Bosi's membership for three months for allegedly tarnishing the party's image. Bosi claimed that he was not given a chance to defend himself when the decision was made.

He said he bore no grudges against the DAP and the party's national leaders, and he also thanked the party for fielding him in the last general election.

Bosi said that as the Kapayan state lawmaker, he was able to help Sabahans and would continue to do so as an Independent assemblyperson. 

"For now, I will remain as an independent lawmaker until I decide on a local political party that can, will fight, struggle for and be with the indigenous people and the people of Sabah," he said.

DAP fielded eight candidates for the Sabah legislative assembly election in 2013, four of whom were elected. Three have since left the party.

With Bosi's departure from DAP, there are now eight lawmakers in the 60-seat Sabah assembly who are neither aligned to BN or Pakatan Harapan.