KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — Hundreds of Batu Sapi Umno members quit the party today, in response to the allegedly unfair suspension of the party’s former vice president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and his subsequent exit.
Over 600 members, which included 27 branch chiefs like Batu Sapi Umno vice chief Pg Roslan Pg Nasrun, also cited their losing confidence in the leadership of Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“Two reasons why we’re quitting. First, we disagree with the Umno Supreme Council’s decision to suspend Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal as Umno vice-president.
“Secondly, we’re quitting because we have lost our trust and confidence in the Umno president, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to lead the party,” Roslan was quoted as saying by online news portal The Borneo Post.
In his speech, Roslan recounted his early days in Umno back in the 1990s, claiming that the party used to dedicate itself to campaigning for the rights of the Bumiputeras both in the Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.
It is unclear whether Batu Sapi Umno chief Datuk Samsudin Yahya was aware of his and the other 600-odd members’ resignation today.
This follows an ongoing exodus from Umno Sabah as 300 Umno Semporna branch chiefs and 100 Umno Kinabatangan members reportedly resigned last month in response to Shafie’s suspension.
The Semporna MP also quit the party last Monday as he claimed that the ruling Malay party did not get an explanation from him before deciding to suspend him.
On June 24, Umno announced the sacking of former deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir for purportedly cooperating with the opposition, while Shafie was suspended.
Muhyiddin and Mukhriz announced shortly after their expulsion that they were evaluating new platforms from which to continue their criticism of the Umno leadership. It is not yet known if Shafie will join them.
