KOTA KINABALU – Tawau Umno approved two motions during its division meeting today – one to field a candidate for the parliamentary seat, and the other to allow the leadership to decide on the party’s political cooperation.
Division chief Ghazalie Ansing said in a statement today that it is time for Tawau Umno to be given the confidence to lead the charge during the coming general election.
“It is time for Tawau Umno to field a candidate. We have sacrificed and compromised for too long but the fate of the Malays and Islam in Tawau has not been taken care of,” said Ghazalie.
“There is no other party that can defend our fate other than Umno.”
In 2018, PKR’s Datuk Christina Liew defeated candidates from Barisan Nasional’s PBS, PAS, and PHRS by winning 50% of the votes.
PBS’ Mary Yap won the seat in 2013.
Ghazalie said the division fully trusts party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin to determine the party’s political cooperation.
Ghazalie added that they will be able to strengthen the party with the leadership of Zahid and Bung Moktar.
He said when Umno did not do well in the 2018 general election, many leaders left the party but Zahid and Bung Moktar stayed.
“We used to get trampled but we were able to survive under these two leaders. We need to continue to put our trust in them – not only to resurrect Umno but to bring down Pakatan Harapan too.
“I call on Umno members to put more trust in our leaders so we can continue to defend the fate of the people.”
Meanwhile, Putatan Umno is also gunning for its parliamentary seat, urging the party leadership to allow the division to do so.
Division chief Jeffrey Nor Mohammad said this is so that the people and party grassroots will not be disappointed.
“Any discussion, cooperation, and appointment involving the division should be discussed with the relevant people," he said.
Jeffrey denied there is conflict between Umno and other parties at the Putatan district level, but said it was disappointing to not be included in any decision-making in the district. – The Vibes, January 3, 2021
