SABAH Umno continues to show signs of life despite talk the members have abandoned it to regroup as the pact Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS). 

Several of its members are contesting for various positions in the upcoming party elections.

The proposed establishment of GBS involves Sabah Umno members joining Parti Bersatu Sabah to form PBS Plus as part of a deal struck between Sabah Umno liaison chief Musa Aman and Sabah Star president Jeffrey Kitingan. 

Jeffrey had offered to Umno the two state seats Sabah Star won in the general election, giving Musa the simple majority he needs to get himself sworn in as chief minister on May 10.

His stint as chief minister proved to be short-lived, however, when several Umno and United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusun Murut Organisation (Upko) elected reps crossed over to Warisan-Pakatan Harapan, giving Shafie Apdal’s party the majority to form the state government on May 12.   

At that point, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and the Liberal Democratic Party had left Barisan Nasional, leaving Umno, MCA, Gerakan and a small number of MIC members in the now
opposition coalition.    

Sabah Wanita chief cum Wanita Umno deputy chief Azizah Mohd Dun is making a bid for the top post in the women’s wing in party elections today. She aims to replace Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who will not be defending the post.

Among those vying for exco positions are Sabah Wanita vice-chief Jainab Ahmad Ayid, Wanita Umno exco member and Silam Wanita chief  Mizma Appehdullah, Sandakan Wanita chief Noraini Sulong, Kota Kinabalu Wanita chief Rosimah Zakaria, and Beluran Wanita chief Julie Sabran.

The controversial Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin and Papar Umno Rosnah Abdul Shirlin are vying for one of the 25 seats on the Supreme Council.

Some 117,000 members in Umno branches and divisions nationwide will be choosing the new leadership to chart the future direction of the party that had lost 40% of its seats in GE14.

Sabah, which has the most number of Umno members at 536,948 members, has noted that the duties of liaison chief, the post Musa held previously, have passed on to his deputy Salleh Said Keruak.  

Musa is not defending his  Libaran Umno division chief’spost but his brother Hanifah Aman has been returned as the Kimanis Umno division chief.

The former chief minister cum Sabah BN Chairman has been missing from the state since May 14, when he sought a court declaration that he is the lawful chief minister of Sabah. 

The originating summon is due to be heard in chambers at the Kota Kinabalu High Court on July 9, at 9am. 

Another sign that Sabah Umno is not going away is Salleh’s reminder to party members to continue to strengthen the party to make it a viable alternative for the people. 

“Any action taken must have the consensus of all. Hasty action can be detrimental to us,” he said in his latest blog post.

He said it was not an offence to have different political opinions and it was not necessary for politicians to be hostile towards one another. – June 23, 2018.