KOTA KINABALU – The open hostility displayed by Umno and Bersatu at the federal level will not affect Sabah Umno as the chapter has been granted autonomy.
Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the decisions of party in Peninsular Malaysia has no bearing on the state chapter.
“For Sabah, I think, since we have been given autonomy, I would stick to his present arrangement,” said Bung Moktar, referring to the party’s alliance with Sabah Bersatu, Sabah Star and PBRS under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah banner.
His response is in stark contrast to what division chiefs in the peninsula say, with many openly calling for the Supreme Council to reject its Perikatan Nasional ally, Bersatu.
Some of them are urging Umno's leadership to focus on Barisan Nasional and Muafakat ally, PAS.
This comes amid accusations that Bersatu is “buying” Umno members to jump ship and paying them to set up branches across the country.
There has been no exodus of Umno members in Sabah other than the mass exodus of former state leaders on December 12, 2018, a group that later formed Sabah Bersatu on April 1, 2019.
Meanwhile, Sabah Umno Youth chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain warned against attempts by rival groups to entice Umno members to switch parties.
Sabah Bersatu is led Datuk Seri Hajiji Md Noor, who is now GRS chairman and chief minister, while Bung Moktar is Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman and Kinabatangan MP.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wadji Dusuki had previously accused Bersatu of stealing Umno members by paying them RM100 each. – The Vibes, January 4, 2021
