Bersatu to contest in seats we won? No way: Umno division leaders

KOTA KINABALU – Several Sabah Umno divisional leaders spoke out today against Sabah Bersatu’s plan to contest in six seats won by Umno, but whose reps later hopped to Bersatu.

Beaufort Umno deputy chief Datuk Siti Aminah Aching said Sabah Umno has absolutely no reason to let Bersatu contest the seats in the 15th general election, even if the elected reps are now with Bersatu.

“Umno will not compromise with any party on the matter, including Bersatu – despite both parties being part of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) ruling parties in Sabah,” she said today.

Siti Aminah was commenting on Sabah Wanita Bersatu chief Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun’s statement yesterday, that Bersatu will defend six seats including Sipitang, Beluran Libaran, Kudat, Ranau, and Beaufort. 

Only Ranau was won by Datuk Jonathan Yassin under PKR’s ticket; the other five seats were won by Umno.  

Siti Aminah reminded Bersatu that the Umno reps hopped parties in 2019 without considering if Umno grassroots members or the people agreed with their move.  

“Umno will not compromise. This has been determined by not only the Umno Supreme Council Working Committee, but also the grassroots members of Umno who want to be dominant again after the coming election,” she said in a statement.

She added that Umno’s strengths and the “awakening” of its grassroots must not be underestimated.  

“Umno is the largest party in the country; its winning is significant for ensuring stability. We are not arrogant, but we must return Umno as the core party in the nation’s administration,” she said. 

The Beaufort seat was won by Azizah on an Umno ticket in 2018, but she joined Bersatu in 2019.   

Meanwhile, Sipitang Umno secretary Abdul Rahman Mohd Noh said Sipitang Umno will also defend the seat, and it will activate 30 district polling centres for the seat.  

“We are confident that Umno’s strategies will contribute to the success of BN becoming the backbone of the nation’s administration when the time comes for the 15th general election,” he said in a statement today.  

Beluran Umno also echoed the same stance, saying that Sabah Bersatu should realise and respect the fact that the seats do not belong to them.  

Its division chief Julia Sabran said that Sabah Bersatu was being disrespectful in fighting for Umno’s seats when both are part of the GRS-BN coalition.  

“As Beluran division chief, I stress that we will do our best to defend and fight for our seats; we will not give an inch of opportunity to Bersatu to take the Beluran seat,” she said in a statement today.  

Sipitang and Beluran seats were won by Yamani Hafez Musa and Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, respectively, who had also quit Umno and joined Bersatu in 2019. – The Vibes, August 11, 2022.