KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno will remain in the party and continue with the party’s struggle in the state.
Sabah Umno liaison deputy chairman Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak today said the party leaders in the state would not leave Umno just because it failed to form the government.
“In Sabah, there are still many members and supporters who are loyal to Umno’s struggle. They have worked hard to bring victory to Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates during the 14th general election (GE14).
“We will not simply abandon Umno Malaysia just because (we) failed to form the government. We must preserve the spirit of loyalty and friendship,” he said in his new blog entry at published at www.sskeruak.blogspot.com.
Salleh, who now carries out the duties of Sabah Umno liaison chief, said Umno needed to be strengthened to become an alternative for the people.
He said whatever action taken must be done through consensus among the members, adding that any act done hastily will only bring losses to the party.
“At the moment, we focus on making sure the process of electing the party leadership runs smoothly on June 30.
Sabah Umno is now represented by 11 state assemblymen and seven members of parliament.
After GE14, Sabah Umno won 17 state seats but six assemblymen left the party to pledge support to the Parti Warisan Sabah-Pakatan Harapan government.
Commenting on the dissolution of Sarawak BN, Salleh said Sabah Umno respected the decision based on the reasons stated by the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Yesterday, Abang Johari announced the decision of four component parties - Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Parti Progresif Demokratik (PDP) – to pull out from BN.
The decision was made based on discussion and consideration among the four parties over the current political situation in Sarawak after the GE14.
Abang Johari also announced the formation of new a coalition involving the four parties – Gabungan Parti Sarawak – as a new party platform for the state government.