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KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi has called on Bersatu to close its Sabah chapter after almost all of its elected representatives from the state had quit the party to support the unity government.
Puad also said that Bersatu was a party that is bereft of any grassroots support and those who do support it were former Umno members.
To stress his point further, Puad said Umno instead has moved from strength to strength in the state based on results of recent elections despite suffering numerous defections following the 2018 general election.
“Umno has risen again after we won in the Kimanis by-election and the recent Sabah election. That means Sabah Umno has gained a proper foothold.
“Now it is Bersatu’s turn. Everyone has quit the party and wanted to form a new party. So does Bersatu still exist in Sabah?
“Bersatu has no grassroots. Its grassroots is from Umno that has switch allegiances.
“Without any power in the state administration, Bersatu might as well close shop in Sabah,’’ he said in a Facebook post today.
This comes after Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman, agreed with other state Bersatu leaders today to leave the party but remain under GRS.
GRS, which previously comprised Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party and United Sabah National Organisation, joined hands with Barisan Nasional to govern Sabah.
However, Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said he will not abandon the party and has stressed that they will rebuild Sabah Bersatu.
The Beluran MP said he would not follow in Hajiji’s footsteps, stating that the group’s actions would not affect Sabah Bersatu, especially at the grassroots level. – The Vibes, December 12, 2022