WITH what is left in Sabah Umno after the exodus that almost caused its death, newly appointed state liaison chief Bung Moktar Radin said being part of state opposition coalition Gabungan Bersatu Sabah is not a priority now.

“The first thing I have to do is talk to all the top Umno leaders on how to reorganise the party.

“I will next meet all the Sabah Umno grassroots and inform them of the party’s present situation.

“Only after all of this is done will we consider talking with GBS. At this point, Sabah Umno needs to be strengthened first,” Bung told The Malaysian Insight.

He is the Kinabatangan MP and Umno’s sole remaining parliamentarian in Sabah.

Sabah Umno is no longer part of GBS following the latest exodus of nine Umno assemblymen, five MPs, and two senators on December 12.

GBS, which has replaced Barisan Nasional in Sabah after the former ruling coalition lost in the 14th general election, comprises Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, and several independent representatives, including Kimanis MP Anifah Aman, who quit Umno in September.

Bung was made head of Sabah Umno after its former liaison chief Hajiji Mohd Noor joined the latest round of defections.

Besides the lawmakers who left, Sabah Umno also lost 21 division chiefs, all of whom have declared support for the Pakatan Harapan government under Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

GBS deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan said former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman is not in the state opposition coalition.

The Sungai Sibuga assemblyman will be left out until his political direction becomes clearer, Jeffrey told The Malaysian Insight.

Musa is facing 35 counts of corruption involving RM250 million and has also not been seen by other leaders in GBS since he was sworn in as an elected representative in early September.

He was named as one of the two GBS advisers when the coalition was registered with Registrar of Societies. The other adviser is Jeffrey’s brother, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is the PBS founder.

“Yes, he is out of the loop. It depends on his future direction,” Jeffrey said of Musa.

Sources close to Musa said he wanted to “remain under the radar” and had not decided to follow the recent groups of Umno representatives who quit the party as he was occupied with his court case.

Others believe that he will join the new party which his brother, Anifah, is preparing to form. – December 18, 2018.