The Ketereh MP said while he could not confirm rumours that Sabah Umno leaders are considering leaving the party, last week’s meeting with committee members and divisional chiefs had shed some light on Umno’s problems in the state.
“The problems are a bit complex and unique to Sabah’s politics,” he told reporters outside Parliament.
“The party president assigned me to discuss the matter with them. I listened not only to the liaison committee leaders but also to the youth, Puteri and women wings in an effort to really understand their problems.
“My conclusion is that politics in Sabah is unique and only the people there would understand. I believe they want to be friendly with the powers that be because of various issues including funds.
“We in Umno have to be honest that we don’t have money as our accounts have been frozen.”
He said he would leave it to Sabah leaders to deliberate the matter, adding however that their decision would be their own, not Umno’s.
He said the leaders had no right to decide on the future of Sabah Umno as this lay with the Umno Supreme Council.
“We understand that in Sabah, they need money because the situation there is different. Here, we talk a lot about politics but in Sabah, it’s different when it comes to development.”
He said he was aware of the meeting by Sabah Umno committee members and divisional chiefs today although the Supreme Council had not been informed of it.
He added that several Sabah Umno leaders had been invited to the Prime Minister’s Office last weekend to discuss several issues.
“Whatever their decision is, we will accept it. Umno is not like other parties. We do not have contracts or ties that prevent our assemblymen or MPs from joining other parties.”
Nevertheless, he said, he had been assured by the majority of Sabah Umno leaders, especially from the youth and Puteri wings, that they would remain with the party.
From this, he said, he believed the problem lay more with the leaders than it did with the members.
Sabah Umno chief Hajiji Noor had held a closed-door meeting with other Sabah Umno leaders and divisional chiefs here today.
They will hold an official press conference tomorrow at 1pm.