Eastern fortress

Sabah is still a Barisan stronghold, says DPM.

BONGAWAN: Sabah remains a stronghold for Umno and Barisan Nasional, a university study has shown.

The UiTM survey showed that an overwhelming 76% of Sabahans want Barisan to continue administering the state for the sake of continuity, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“The 2016 study also showed that more than 71% of people in Sabah believe that Barisan has significantly transformed Sabah,” he said when launching the Kimanis, Beaufort and Papar Umno division meetings here.

“What is needed now is for this confidence to be transformed into support for Umno and Barisan in the coming election,” he added.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said there were Umno leaders who had quit the party and showed their true selves by changing their stand on various issues.

“They say one thing in the morning and another in the afternoon. They are not trustworthy leaders,” he said, adding that genuine leaders were those who remained loyal to the party through thick and thin.

“We will weather any challenges together,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid, adding that he intended to visit Sabah every two weeks to help Umno gear up for the polls.

Recalling how political bickering had plagued Sabah just before the Filipino gunmen intrusion of Lahad Datu in 2013, he said this shows how outsiders could take advantage of disunity.

“The fox can easily enter the chicken coop when we are not watching. Similarly, we do not want a fox in a sheep’s coat to remain within Barisan,” he said.

He also cautioned that any move to get Sabahans to reject Barisan and Umno would be a mistake.

“We know there are those who are trying to sway the people and pull off a Brexit in Sabah”, he said, likening it to Britain’s exit from the European Union.

He said many Britons subsequently voiced regret when the country decided to pull out from the EU.

In Tawau, Dr Ahmad Zahid announced a RM2mil allocation for rebuilding Pasar Gantung Tawau, which was razed in a July 14 fire.

Speaking at the Kumpulan Rastamas Hari Raya open house at Wisma Rastamas, he said the market should be rebuilt quickly to help the 77 stall owners restart their businesses.

He also gave out donations to the victims of the fire as well as to orphans from Ar Raudhah Home for Orphans.