‘SABAH UMNO STILL SOLID DESPITE EXODUS’
State chapter better off with new leaders, says Umno veep
UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob believes that Sabah Umno is still solid despite the exodus of leaders and is better off with a line-up of new leaders.
He said what was important was for the new leadership to be more aggressive in going to the ground to address the wrong perception of the party’s direction.
“Although the general view is that Sabah Umno is crippled, the reality is different. Each division still has senior leaders, such as the deputy division chief, division vice-chief, its wings, as well as its central committee members.
“Grassroots support remains strong. No divisions have been dissolved,” he said after a meeting with the new Sabah Umno liaison committee.
Present were Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad, Sabah Umno deputy information chief Datuk Yakub Khan and state Wanita Umno chief Datuk Jainab Ahmad.
Ismail said discussions on the leadership of the new liaison unit would be announced soon.
“We ask all machineries at the division level to carry on with their duties, including by calling for a special meeting.
“We must strengthen the party and work hard to recapture Putrajaya and Sabah.”
He said efforts to give autonomy to Sabah Umno would be continued as planned.
He declined to comment on the demand by Sabah Umno Youth for Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign, adding that he had yet to read its statement.
However, he said, Sabah Umno had, in the meeting, voiced full support for the party leadership.
In Johor Baru, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin remained optimistic that the party could pull itself out of troubled waters.
He said the loss of faith among members was due to the lack of clear direction in the party’s rejuvenation efforts.
“Many Umno leaders, upon losing power, had become vulnerable and lost their sense of direction in the (party’s) struggle.
“Sabah Umno leaders had said that their action was motivated by their loss of confidence in the party leadership after losing the general election.
“I respect the reason given (by the leaders). I believe that this sentiment is echoed by Umno members and supporters. And that efforts to rehabilitate, rejuvenate and rebuild Umno were not drawn clearly by the leadership.
“I would like to stress that as leaders, we should display resilience and perseverance in rebuilding the party. There is no sense in blaming the tools (party) for our shortcomings.”
He said people rejected Umno because its leaders had integrity and transparency crises, while neglecting to listen to the people.
“We must remain united in healing the party. Umno, as a vessel, is not to be blamed. The ones at fault are the crew.
“I hope that the incident in Sabah spurs regeneration efforts that the (party) members and Malays desire.”