BN confident of ha rick in Sepanggar

Barisan Nasional is confident of winning all the three seats in Sepanggar parliamentary cons tuency in the 14th general elec on (GE14) despite the reported exodus of 150 Umno members from Sepanggar division.

MANGGATAL: Barisan Nasional (BN) is confident of winning all the seats in Sepanggar parliamentary constituency in the 14th general election (GE14) despite the reported exodus of 150 Umno members from Sepanggar division and rumours of its incumbent MP Datuk Jumat Idris planning to join the opposition.

BN strategic communications director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the BN would retain the Sepanggar parliamentary seat and the Karambunai state seat within it as well as recapture the other state seat, Inanam, come polling day on May 9.

He said he had discussions with the Sepanggar Umno division acting chief Datuk Yakub Khan, and the division is still in good hands as the various sections under the division are still going strong.

“Those who left the party are opportunists who may feel that they have a chance of being fielded as candidates in other parties,” he said, adding that selfish leaders are not welcome in Umno.

Abdul Rahman, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and incumbent MP of Kota Belud, was commenting on the decision of the 150 Umno members who joined Warisan on Wednesday.

Among those who left were Umno Sepanggar division committee members Azhar Matussin, Sahar Mantamin, Jamrin Wahid, Zaidi Atoh, Ladis Idris, and Umno Kota Kinabalu information chief Datuk Junaidi Rahman.

It is best for those who disagree to come forward and voice out their opinions, Rahman told reporters at an event in Manggatal yesterday.

“However, we in Sepanggar will continue to work hard. This is the practice of democracy, something that we cannot deny.

“We will continue to work hard because, to us, the people will only appreciate and support a party that has exhibited continuous service throughout the year and season, and not leaders that only want to make statements and work when it is election season,” he said.

Asked to confirm whether he will be contesting in Sepanggar, Abdul Rahman said he is confident with ‘every fibre of his being' that he would indeed be standing there.

Although many of his Kota Belud constituents had requested him to defend his seat there, he said he is a ‘party man' who would only conform to his party's wishes.

On rumours of Jumat joining the opposition, Abdul Rahman asserted that he is confident, as of now, that the former is still with Umno.

He said he sees Jumat as an Umno leader, one who was born in the Umno leadership.

“I still believe that he will stay (in Umno) as he is not part of the group that left the party last night (Wednesday) in Kg Likas.

“We hope he will stay with us, not because of me or anyone else, but because we want to develop Sabah together.

“We want to ensure that Sabah will be placed at the best position for it to get political strength in the upcoming election,” he said.

Asked whether Jumat has made any ‘demands' in return for him letting go of his seat, Abdul Rahman said the former is ‘a man who would not ask for any kind of compensation'.

“I am telling you from the bottom of my heart there is no deal, there is nothing. He is a leader of high calibre and integrity… he is not a leader who would stoop that low,” he said.

Jumat, when contacted by the media yesterday, said he wants to take a ‘holiday' during the election.

However, when asked about the rumours of him joining the opposition, he simply said, “it has yet to be seen”.

On Wednesday night, Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said the decision to join Warisan will be up to Jumat himself, as in politics, there is no such thing as forcing someone to do something.