SEVERAL Sabah Umno leaders have voiced their concern over deputy chief Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s perceived solo efforts to rekindle ties with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Sabah Umno and GRS had a fallout in January last year.
Umno election director Jeffrey Nor Mohamed and information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir dismissed Abdul Rahman’s recent remarks suggesting that GRS would struggle to secure a comfortable win in the upcoming state election without the combined support of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN).
“Abdul Rahman’s statements do not reflect the position of Sabah Umno. At this point, there have been no discussions with GRS,” Jeffrey Nor said in Putatan.
“Other than talks between BN and PH, we have not engaged with any other party, particularly local ones. This is just his personal opinion.”
The state election is expected to be called by December next year.
Suhaimi echoed similar sentiments, but he emphasised that the state chapter would operate within the autonomy granted by Umno Malaysia.
“We are open to collaborating with other parties in Sabah, but the core alliances must be with Sabah BN and PH,” he said.
During the Economic Politics Forum 2024, Abdul Rahman was quoted as saying, “whether GRS can win comfortably, the answer is no,” stressing the need for support from PH and BN to ensure such victory.
Abdul Rahman’s stance has been a source of contention within Sabah Umno, particularly with state chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
In addition to attempting to mend relations between Sabah Umno and GRS, Abdul Rahman had also previously questioned the extent of the chapter’s autonomy, asserting that the state chief only has control over state election matters.
Speculation about an internal strife further increased when Bung Moktar was notably absent from the Tuaran divisional meeting on June 22.
Despite these developments, Bung Moktar, Abdul Rahman, including Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have denied any split within Sabah Umno’s top leadership.
The fallout between Sabah Umno and GRS began after the party, led by Bung Moktar, withdrew its support for GRS in January 2023, in what was seen as a failed attempt to oust the chief minister.
The move was opposed by several of the chapter’s elected representatives and with the support from these dissident Umno leaders and state PH leaders. – September 21, 2024
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