Puteri Semporna chief explains loyalty to Umno
KUALA LUMPUR: The continuous championing of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) to the community in Semporna has become the stand for Puteri Umno remaining loyal to the party while other key leaders have chosen to leave the party.
Puteri Semporna division head Zakiah Kalipunya said although the former Wanita division head and former Youth division head had left the party, she pledged to continue to be loyal to party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Last June, Semporna Umno vice head, Datuk Jaujan Sambakong, Semporna Youth head, Mohd Aziz Jamman and Semporna Wanita head, Manis Muka Dara had chosen to leave Umno following the suspension of the division’s Umno head Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Mohd Shafie, who is also the former Umno vice-president and former Rural and Regional Development Minister, whose membership was suspended for breach of discipline, had decided to leave the party on July 4.
Conceding that her decision to choose between an individual and the party was a difficult one, she felt that the deeds of the party for the Semporna community were more important and had influenced her to remain with the Umno leadership.
Zakiah said although several key leaders had left Umno, she was confident the party would not be short of leaders as there were still many credible people to lead the party.
Earlier, Puteri Umno head Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin in her policy speech, praised Zakiah’s decision to remain loyal to the party and described it as the best example in strengthening the party. - Bernama