Shafie welcomes Umno Sabah reps' decision, thanks Hajiji for support
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal welcomed the decision of the nine assemblymen, five members of parliaments (MPs) and other leaders of Umno Sabah to leave the party.
He believed that the Umno leaders made the decision after considering at length their political direction.
"I believe they made the decision upon realizing that Umno is no longer united in Peninsular Malaysia."
He also thanked former Umno Sabah chief Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor for voicing their support to the Federal Government led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Warisan-led State Government.
Hajiji announced at a press conference yesterday that nine Umno assemblymen, five MPs, two senators and 21 division chiefs had left the party with immediate effect. All the members who have left Umno are now independents.
However, Shafie, who is also Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president, remained vague as to whether the former Umno leaders had approached him or if he was ready to accept them into Warisan.
"We'll see what they want. They have not said anything yet besides their support to the Prime Minister and the Warisan government."
Nonetheless, he stressed the importance for the people to be united in order to develop the State.
Shafie said this during the handing-over of Warisan membership form by Sukau assemblyman Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman to him here yesterday.
Saddi left Umno in August to become an independent before joining Warisan.
"We welcome him (Saddi) into the party.
"We believe that Warisan is a platform to unite Malaysians at the Sabah state level."
On the other hand, Shafie said the Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin's entitlement should not be questioned.
He said this in response to Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai's statement on the State Government's decision to add RM1.3 million for the Head of State and entourage to perform the Haj pilgrimage in the supplementary supply budget in August.
He said the King and sultans had their entitlements.
"So why question the entitlement of the Head of State?
"If he is entitled to a certain amount, let it be."
He said even the chief minister and ministers had some entitlements.
He added that prices of hotels and other expenses were also more expensive during the Haj pilgramage period.
Shafie further stressed that the entitlement did not involve misuse or abuse of power.
He pointed out that PBS should question Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who was former Infrastructure Development Minister, on the millions of ringgit involving the Sabah Water Department instead.
Former Umno Kota Kinabalu vice chief Datuk Fatimah Shara and former Pensiangan Wanita Umno chief Datuk Hajah Zaiton OKK Anik also handed their Warisan membership forms to Shafie yesterday.