Former Sabah Umno leaders to join Bersatu tomorrow?
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FORMER Sabah Umno leaders will likely officially join Bersatu tomorrow.
Party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to hand over their membership cards at a ceremony at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya at 5pm.
Karanaan assemblyman Masidi Manjun neither confirmed nor denied the matter, only indicating that he is in Kuala Lumpur.
When pressed for an answer, he said: “I believe so.”
Sulaman rep Hajiji Mohd Noor, who led a group of six assemblymen, five MPs and 21 division chiefs out of the state Umno on December 12 last year, was tight-lipped when asked for confirmation.
Dr Mahathir, who is also prime minister, last month announced that Bersatu will spread its wings to Sabah.
Three days ago, Hajiji confirmed that the party’s state chapter will be launched in Kota Kinabalu on April 6.
Parti Warisan Sabah, led by Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal, initially opposed Bersatu’s entry into the state.
However, he later said Warisan had no way of stopping the peninsula-based party from setting up shop in Sabah as state laws “allow for new parties to be formed”.
The former Sabah Umno leaders have made no secret about their interest in joining the Pakatan Harapan component, but some have also spoken about plans to continue working with the loose opposition pact of Gabungan Bersatu Sabah.
Hajiji is expected to clarify the state Bersatu’s affiliations at the launch next month.
Critics have said Bersatu’s decision to enter Sabah is very much like Umno’s move in the 1990s – which was also done by Dr Mahathir – that led to the rise of anti-peninsula sentiments among locals. – March 13, 2019.