KOTA KINABALU – Any effort to entice Umno members to abandon the party must stop, said Sabah Umno Youth chief, following claims that Bersatu is luring members to switch camps.
Abdul Aziz Julkarnain said he is not sure if there is another phase of “buying” Umno members into Bersatu, but there was an early overture to replace Umno here during an exodus on December 12, 2018.
“I hope they don’t do it anymore. And we welcome anyone from Bersatu to return with open arms, should they wish.”
On March 15, 2019, five MPs, nine assemblymen, two senators in Sabah left Umno for Bersatu.
They included former Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Karanaan assemblyman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, to join Bersatu.
Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin – now Sabah BN and Umno chief – and former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman remained in Umno, however.
“(Regardless of what happened in the past), Sabah Umno is getting stronger by the day now under the leadership of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin,” said Aziz.
He said this in response to Umno Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s accusation that Bersatu had been “stealing” and “buying” Umno members.
Asyraf yesterday said that for the past few months, he had been receiving complaints from Umno members claiming that Bersatu had offered RM100 for each Umno member to join Bersatu, and RM3,000 to RM5,000 if they set up a new Bersatu branch.
He had urged Bersatu to stop “stealing” and “buying” Umno’s members if the cooperation between the two parties is to continue.
Meanwhile, Bersatu national Youth chief Ceasar Mandela Malakun denied Asyraf’s allegation.
“He (Asyraf) should provide evidence to his statement. Otherwise, it’s a figment of his own imagination.” – The Vibes, January 3, 2020
