Umno Sabah to be granted autonomy soon — deputy chief
KOTA KINABALU: Umno Sabah’s request for autonomy from the party’s central leadership is expected to be granted soon, said its state deputy chairman Datuk Yakub Khan.
With autonomy, Umno Sabah will be administering the chapter without any interference from the party’s central leadership, Yakub said, adding that the decisions will include choice of candidates and the party(s) it wants to work with in the 15th general election.
Speaking to reporters after officiating at the Umno Putatan’s annual general meeting here yesterday, Yakub who was asked to comment on the cooperation between Umno and PAS in Peninsular Malaysia, said the deal was only applicable for Peninsular Malaysia.
“Once we are granted the autonomy, we are free to choose our partners because we are not tied to any parties that Umno in Peninsular Malaysia is working with. We understand that in Sabah, we are multi-racial and multi-religious, that is why Umno Sabah needs autonomy to suit the current political landscape in Sabah.
“Our priority now is to strengthen Umno in the state. After that we will look into working together with the party we think is suitable,” said Yakub who also pointed out that allegations of Umno Sabah no longer having the support of the people is not true.
“From the attendance today, we can refute the allegations... those present here are just the branch leaders but the meeting venue is full. The party’s system is proceeding as normal and we believe as well as are confident that Umno’s grassroots supporters are still loyal to the party and its struggles,” he pointed out.
Umno Putatan leaders, Yakub said, was a combination of old and new and was a good mix that could be used to get closer to all at the grassroots level.
“I am confident that Umno Sabah will still be around for a long time. I urge Umno members, especially in Putatan, not to dwell in the past but to look ahead to the future and prepare for the 15th general election. I call on Umno Putatan division to start working now with the aim to wrestle back the parliamentary as well as state constituencies here,” said Yakub.
When asked for the number of Umno Sabah members who had quit the party, Yakub said the state leadership had requested all its divisions to update their membership list and remove those who had quit the party.
“Then we will be able to know how many left but I am confident that those who left the party number to only about 20 per cent of the total membership in Sabah,” he said.
He is of the opinion that those who had left Umno Sabah had made it possible for new leaders in the party to emerge and showcase their ability, adding: “These new faces have more caliber and are more suitable for the current political landscape in Sabah.”
To a question if there was any possibility of those who had quit Umno Sabah would return to its fold in the future, Yakub replied: “It is possible especially after seeing that Umno is in a good situation but we cannot accept (them) immediately. We will bring the matter up for discussion among Umno Sabah leadership first.”