Umno’s doors open to former members
> Ahmad Zahid urges those who wrongly joined Warisan to return to party’s fold
SEMPORNA: Umno’s doors are always open to those who have wrongly joined the splinter Warisan party led by Umno’s former vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, said Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Without mentioning names, the deputy prime minister likened those who have made the wrong decision as having stepped on a banana skin for looking up, and advised them to reflect upon themselves so that there would be no regrets later.
“We welcome them in taking that step and return to us.
“The Opposition will always be the opposition. They are not worried about anything.
“They want to pour fuel on the fire and we do not want to be firefighters here, but I think the fire needs to be taken away.
“The reality is the people still want the leadership of the present government to administer and fulfil their needs,” he told reporters after opening the Semporna AlQuran Learning Academy in Bugaya, here yesterday.
The event also saw some 300 former members of the Warisan party handing in their membership forms as a symbol of their return to the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno vice- president, also reminded Sabahans to learn from the state’s political history and avoid matters which can cause political instability.
He said political instability as experienced by Sabahans before should be avoided as its effects were not good for Sabah and its people.
“We know that United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) and Berjaya party had failed. I do not believe a snake will bite at the same place three times. I hope the lesson experienced by Sabahans will not recur as it only resulted in political instability and should be avoided.
“I am confident we have done our best. As normal human beings, we have weaknesses, but it can be improved. If the roof, floors and walls of our house are leaking, we patch them up, we don’t tear it (the house) down.
“Because we know the pillars are strong. The pillars are our strength to ensure our survival. I am confident that the current state leadership is the strong pillars to support the formation of a stable government in Sabah,” he said.
Also present were Chief Minister and Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Musa Aman and acting Semporna division chief Datuk Seri Nasir Sakaran.