The Malaysian Insight

UMNO will continue to stand with its Sabah chapter despite the recent turmoil in the state, its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. 

He gave his assurance that Umno will remain together with its Sabah base. 

“Umno stands with the Sabah party leadership and grassroots members. We will support Sabah Umno’s image and strategy,” he said when delivering his policy speech at the party’s general assembly at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur this morning. 

Last week, Sabah Umno pulled its support for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government led by Chief Minister Hajiji Mohd Noor, planning to form a new government with the support of Warisan.

However, five Umno state reps remained loyal to Hajiji, keeping his chief minister position safe.

Hajiji then dropped Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin from the state cabinet, where he was the deputy chief minister.

Zahid however said Umno would support whichever party that formed the state government. 

“Whatever form the Malaysian government takes now and in the future, Umno still chooses to be together with its political friends from the region for the sake of Malaysia’s stability,” he said.

Sabah Umno’s Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat) was appointed deputy chief minister III and the state’s works minister, while James Ratib (Sugut) was made community development and people’s well-being minister.

Bung said he will be taking the two Umno members of the Sabah cabinet to the party’s disciplinary board.

“We will discuss further action with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.” 

Bung said Hajiji’s move was not in line with the prime minister’s wish for a unity government.

Zahid said Umno should see that the unity government formed today has a considerable legal and moral obligation towards Sabah and Sarawak. 

“The positions of Sabah and Sarawak are no longer as states, but as regions within Malaysia. 

“Accordingly, the Malaysia Agreement 1963, better known as MA63, needs to be implemented immediately.”

He said although some basic measures have been enforced, there are still many things that form the basis of MA63 that need to be translated into action. – January 13, 2023.