‘Leadership failure a large factor in exodus’

KOTA KINABALU: The failure of Umno’s leadership to provide clear political direction has caused the party’s largest state base to collapse, with most of its elected representatives and division leaders quitting to become independents.

Sabah Umno liaison committee chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor, who led his comrades in making the announcement yesterday, said there were conflicting accounts of the “way forward”, depending on who one consulted at the top levels of leadership.