All reps except two exit Sabah Umno
KOTA KINABALU: Signs could be pointing to the "death" of Umno Sabah as nine of its assemblymen and five Member of Parliaments (MPs) along with 21 division chiefs have left the party with immediate effect.
During a press conference yesterday, former Umno Sabah chief Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said the 14 Umno elected representatives are now government-friendly independents.
“After much thought and discussion among us, we have decided to resign as members of Umno with effect today.
"We are now party-less and would remain as independents until such time when we decide to join the party of our choice,” Hajiji said.
The nine assemblymen who left are Hajiji (Sulaman), Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun (Karanaan), Datuk Japlin Akim (Usukan), Datuk Musbah Jamli (Tempasuk), Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan (Kawang), Datuk Arifin Arif (Membakut), Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (Klias), Matbali Musah (Lumadan) and Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (Apas).
The five MPs who left are Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), Datuk Rahim Bakri (Kudat), Datuk Zakaria Edris (Libaran) and Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang), who has yet to take his oath as the Sipitang MP.
This means that Umno Sabah only has one MP – Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan) and only one state assemblyman, former Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman (Sungai Sibuga).
All of the Umno members are expected to make a decision on their future political platform within the next one or two months.
“All Umno Sabah leaders and elected representatives who are leaving the party today have pledged full support to the Pakatan Harapan Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“In fact, all Malaysians should support Tun in his endeavour to make this country great again.
"Consistent with the above, we would like to also register our pledge to support Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal and the state government of Sabah,” Hajiji said.
In the press conference, Pensiangan MP Arthur Joseph Kurup (PBRS-BN) also announced his departure from the BN coalition.
Altogether 21 division chiefs have quit the party while four division chiefs, namely Tenom, Kalabakan, Sepanggar and Kinabatangan are still with party.
Two senators, Datuk Ghani Yassin and Datuk John Ambrose have also left the party as well as former Umno supreme council member and former speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.
A significant number of leaders from Umno Sabah Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri wings have also left.
When asked whether Umno Sabah would still exist, Hajiji said that he was not in a position to say so.
On Umno Sabah's role in the Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) coalition, he said that he and the other representatives would still maintain a partnership with GBS and that they had even held a meeting with the other GBS leaders on Tuesday night.
“I have made it clear from the beginning to all Umno Sabah leaders and members that there is no compulsion in joining us to leave the party. They are free to make their own decision, though I hope all or most of them would eventually join us.
“We are leaving Umno with a heavy heart but with a clear conscience. We sincerely believe breaking free from the political baggage of the past is the correct decision to allow political renewal for the betterment of Sabah,” he said.
Hajiji reckoned that Umno is not what it used to be as the current leadership lacks clear political direction, and he and his fellow members are not sure where is the party is heading to.
“There are conflicting accounts of the ‘way forward', depending who you talk to at the top leadership.
“In our overall analysis of current political trends in this country, we have also taken into account that Umno Sabah has over 100,000 nonMuslim members.
"Any shift in the political direction of the party would surely jeopardize their continued support for Umno.
“It's for the above reasons that we have decided to take the initiative to chart our own political future. We will start by disassociating ourselves from Umno so that we are free to consider all available options to chart our future in the new Malaysia,” Hajiji said.
When asked about Musa's take on the exodus, Hajiji said that he could not answer on the former's behalf.
“I did inform him (about the exodus)…I cannot say anything more than that,” he explained.