Ismail instead believes there is a silver lining behind the exodus, saying it is an opportunity for younger leaders to show what they can do.

“You can look at this positively or negatively… I look at it positively in that this gives room to new faces to lead the party.

“New blood may have new ideas, maybe better ones. As the saying goes, ‘new broom sweeps well’,” he said here today.

He noted that despite the departure of senior leaders, it was not all doom and gloom as pictured in the media.

“The picture is as if Umno in Sabah is crippled but actually it’s not.

“There are still leaders at the respective divisions although many of the heads have left. And so far, no branches have been dissolved and members are not quitting in large numbers,” Ismail said.

He said he had instructed the deputy or vice heads at all Sabah divisions to stand in as the heads while waiting for official letters to be issued on the acting heads.

“I am confident the new Sabah Umno leadership would be able to make the state chapter even stronger than before.”

Having explained the party’s direction to the new line-up today, he expected no more confusion among the members and their grassroots.

“As the opposition, we will work hard to wrest back Putrajaya and Sabah,” he said.

Ismail also announced that a majority of the Sabah Umno women’s wing members were staying put in the party.

Asked on the demand by Sabah Umno Youth for party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down, Ismail declined to comment.

“I have yet to read (the article) so I can’t comment. Let me read it first because sometimes the headline is different from the content,” he said.

Sabah Umno Youth earlier today blamed Zahid for the sudden exodus from the party, saying a lack of direction had left members in disarray.

The wing’s vice-chief, Ghazalie Ansing, also accused the Umno president, who is facing charges of corruption and criminal breach of trust, of using the party as “a shield to save himself”.

He said Zahid should resign immediately.