KOTA KINABALU, July 4 (Bernama) - Gerakan Akar Umbi Umno Malaysia (GAUM) chairman Zulkarnain Mahdar said Sabah Umno is not affected by the resignation of  some branch chiefs in Semporna, Kinabatangan and Kimanis.

"Sabah Umno has 25 divisions, 5,676 branches and 546,879 members in the state. Sabah Umno is still strong under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak,” he said in a statement here, today.

The Umno branch chiefs resigned in to protest the sacking of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and the suspension of Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Zulkarnain, who is also Pakatan NGO Pro Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman said Sabah Umno’s strength and maturity should not be disputed having won almost all the seats contested in the 13th general election.

"Those who resigned from Umno do not understand the value of loyalty to the party. They will realise that Umno is not cruel to the three leaders. Action was taken against them for violating the party’s constitution.” He also said that Mohd Shafie was only suspended as member and could still appeal to the Umno Supreme Council.

Mohd Shafie, who is also Semporna Member of Parliament, has resigned as Umno member. — Bernama