Abang Johari: Umno won’t go into Sarawak, Najib told me
PM told him Umno’s allies are strong enough there, says new Chief Minister of Sarawak.
KUCHING: Prime Minister Najib Razak gave his assurance to Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg that Umno would not enter Sarawak as the local BN components have a strong presence in the state.
Abang Johari told this to the leaders of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) during a supreme council meeting today.
According to a source, Abang Johari had also denied any affiliation with Umno, saying he has been actively smeared on social media.
“Many have associated myself with Umno. That I supposedly will bring Umno into Sarawak,” Abang Johari had said.
“This is all the result of social media, which said that I supposedly want to bring Umno into Sarawak,” Abang Johari said.
“Here I want to stress that Umno will not come into Sarawak. I have told this to the PM when I met him yesterday.
“PM Najib told me that there is no need for Umno to enter Sarawak as PBB, and other BN components are stronger there,” he said.
Meanwhile, in today’s supreme council meeting, Abang Johari had made the surprise announcement that long-time party leader Alfred Jabu Numpang, 77, would be relinquishing his post as the party’s deputy president.
Alfred Jabu, who was deputy chief minister under Abdul Taib Mahmud’s administration, headed the Pesaka wing, which consists of mostly Iban and Bidayuh leaders.
Senior vice-president Douglas Uggah Embas takes over the vacant post as acting deputy president. Jabu did not contest in the May 2016 state election
Senior vice-president Awang Tengah Ali Hassan was also appointed as acting deputy president of PBB, taking up the post left vacant by Abang Johari.
Abang Johari added that Awang Tengah was the acting deputy president as the post had to go through a party election rather than appointment.
“The move must be part of an overall consensus in the party that he will be Number Two,” said University of Tasmania’s Asia Institute director Prof James Chin when contacted.
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