The departure of about 150 members from the Sepanggar UMNO Division will have no effect on Barisan Nasional’s strategy in Sepanggar in the 14th general election, said Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan (photo left).
The BN Strategic Communications director said BN would retain the Sepanggar parliamentary seat and the Karambunai state seat within it as well as recapture the other state seat, Inanam, come polling day on May 9.
He said he had discussions with the Sepanggar UMNO Division acting chief Datuk Yakub Khan, and added that those who left UMNO were opportunists possibly seeking electoral seats through other parties.
“These leaders are pursuing their self-interests and are not bothered about the party interests. I think they are not welcome in UMNO,” he said.
Rahman, who is minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the Sepanggar UMNO Division would continue to work hard because the people would elect a party with a track record of service to the people and not a party that approached the people only during an election.
On Datuk Jumat Idris, who was the Sepanggar MP at the dissolution of parliament, Rahman said he(Jumat) would work with the party for the development of Sabah.
Rahman said if he was fielded in Sepanggar in the coming general election, Jumat would make way and not ask for anything in return.
“To be fair to Datuk Jumat, I do not want there to be any speculation that he had demanded this and that. He is a leader of calibre and integrity. Datuk Jumat will not stoop to that level,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yakub said some of those who joined Warisan were sacked from UMNO last year for having conspired with Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who was once an UMNO vice-president.
“As the Sepanggar UMNO acting chief, I am relieved that these ‘thorns in the flesh’ have left the party on their own accord,” he added.
