Bung said while it may appear as if the two are at odds, it is normal to have political differences.

The Kinabatangan MP was quoted by Bernama as saying he is happy to work alongside Rahman, whom he said has vast experience in politics that could bring the party forward.

“People always bash him, as they do me. So, perhaps the party president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) saw that we should team up to lead Umno in Sabah. I accept the challenge,” he told reporters after an iftar event last night.

Rahman took over the Sabah Umno deputy position from Karambunai assemblyman Yakub Khan, who was appointed to lead the party’s Sabah unity government secretariat.

Bung took over Sabah Umno in 2019 after Hajiji Noor led the Umno exodus in December 2018.

Previously, Rahman urged Zahid to reconsider his decision to allow Bung to lead Barisan Nasional and Umno in the September 2020 state election because of his ongoing court case.

Separately, Bung said Umno members needed to be active and “aggressive” in defending party leaders, especially on social media, in the run-up to the state election.

He said the party will set up cyber teams in every voting district, adding that any party that does not utilise social media fully would face defeat in the elections.

“The political landscape has changed and every party needs to find new approaches to ensure it remains relevant in facing the elections,” he said.