KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s ties to Sabah are working in unexpected ways for the Umno vice-presidential incumbent, as the party approaches its pivotal main body elections tomorrow.

Party insiders and some pro-Umno bloggers have hinted at growing support for the rural and regional development minister in the Peninsula, where the bulk of the party’s 191 divisions are found.

But even after retaining the Semporna parliamentary seat for five straight terms, there remains a deafening silence from across the South China Sea.

“The problem for Shafie is that practically every Umno division leader in Sabah is loyal to Musa, so openly supporting Shafie may not be very wise,” said a senior state party member who declined to be named due to local sensitivity over the issue.

His long-touted rival, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, decided earlier last month that he would not defend his seat on the powerful supreme council nor would he step up to contest the vice-presidency as initially speculated.

On paper, that should translate to an advantage for Shafie as that would put him as the single most senior leader representing East Malaysian interests in the country’s most powerful political party.

But until now, with the exception of his hometown division of Semporna in Sabah’s east coast, there has been hardly a squeak from Sabah Umno in support of Shafie’s defence of his vice-presidency.

Rumours have long circulated about a cold war between Shafie and Musa, with persistent talk about Shafie gunning for the post of Sabah chief minister in the run-up to the recent 13th General Election.

Shafie was widely reported as having shrugged off the rumours of poor support in his home state, saying he was not worried and that he was confident he has their backing.

Conversely, analysts think that Shafie’s Sabah roots are helping prop up his chances in West Malaysia, in acknowledgement of Sabah Umno’s major contribution in helping keep the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in power in the last national polls.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng agreed that many senior leaders in Umno would be keen to keep Shafie on board as a vice-president, as the latter would symbolise the importance of Sabah in the party’s continued survival.

“The fact that he comes from Sabah would make him more reachable and responsive to the Bornean cause,” Khoo said.

Shafie is one of three incumbent vice-presidents, together with Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein — all Cabinet ministers.

They are being challenged by Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, former Negri Sembilan mentri besar Tan Sri Isa Samad, former Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Ali Rustam.