Last man standing, Bung Moktar becomes new Sabah Umno chief

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 ― Umno appointed its sole remaining Sabah federal lawmaker, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, as the state's liaison committee chairman today, after the party was gutted by an exodus of its other state parliamentarians and assemblymen.

Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa announced Bung’s appointment at a special press conference today.

This morning, rumours of mass exits from Umno proved true as all of its elected representatives save for Bung and former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman resigned as party members.

“Sabah will be led by Bung Moktar as the chairman of the Sabah Umno Liaison Committee. Sepanggar Umno division head  Datuk Yakub Khan is the deputy chairman of the Sabah Umno Liaison Committee.

“Meanwhile, Jefri Ariffin will hold the post of secretary of the Sabah Umno Liaison Committe, and Tenom Umno division head Raime Unggi as the Information Chief,” Annuar announced.

“They will rearrange the members in the state liaison committee. Meaning, beginning tomorrow, the leadership line-up of Umno Sabah will be completed and we want to see Sabah Umno operating as usual,” he added.

Earlier today, Sabah Umno leaders including nine out of ten state assemblymen and five out of six MPs, two party senators, two Umno Supreme Council members and a majority of its state committee opted to quit the party.

Former state liaison chief Datuk Hajiji Noor said they were also expecting Wanita and Puteri division chiefs to eventually leave. About nine out of 25 youth division chiefs are also believed to be leaving the party.

However, in a statement later, Sabah Umno Wanita wing chief Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid said said that the Wing is undecided about renouncing its allegiance to Umno, and would first hold discussions with its members in the state's divisions.

“The Wanita Umno wings will make a decision after finalising discussions with Wanita Umno members, to gauge their response, and will resign en masse if the need arises, and we will send the forms to those necessary,” Jainab said.

The mass exodus has left the party with one assemblyman and one MP in Datuk Seri Musa Aman and  Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin respectively.

Most of its division chiefs also left, with the exception of three, including Bung’s Kinabatangan division.

Sabah Umno said that the unclear political direction of the Malay nationalist party was no longer serving the party’s interest.