3,000 put paid to rumours

SEMPORNA: The presence of more than 3,000 people at the Semporna Umno division meeting here have quashed rumours of a mass exodus of party members with the departure of former vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who officiated the meeting, said the large turnout was a strong indication that many still supported the party and stood by its struggles.

Prior to the divisional meeting, there were rumours that the venue, the district community centre, would be empty because many had left Umno to join Shafie.

“There will be people out there who will try to instigate and divide us, but your presence here today (yesterday) tells me that party members remain united and that any attempt to split us will be in vain.”

Since leaving Umno, Shafie, who is also Semporna member of parliament, had taken over local-based party Parti Warisan Sabah, and roped in several elected representatives from the opposition as well as his close aide Datuk Jaujan Sambakong, who won the Sulabayan state seat under the Barisan Nasional ticket in the last election.

“It was a path he chose. In politics, leaders come and go and we, in the party, especially this division, must strengthen our unity to ensure this party continues to be the people’s choice in Semporna,” he said.

Hishammuddin urged members to close ranks and support Datuk Seri Nasir Sakaran, who is now the acting division chief.