Umno reps change their mind about asking Bung to quit

KOTA KINABALU: The five Sabah Umno dissidents who called for Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin to step down as state Umno chairman softened their stand just two hours later. They retracted the call for him to quit but maintained their support for Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Sabah’s Chief Minister.

Yesterday, the five Barisan Nasional dissidents publicly declared their backing for Hajiji as the Chief Minister and called for Bung Moktar to quit at first.

In a statement issued close to 5pm, the five Umno assemblymen pledged their unwavering support for Hajiji.

They were Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat), Datuk Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Jasni Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Arshad Bistari (Tempasuk) and Datuk James Ratib (Sugut).

“We were shocked by the action of some party members, including party chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who are trying to cause the downfall of the state government.

“We wish to make it clear that we support Hajiji as Chief Minister,” they said in the statement.

They also stressed that they do not support Bung Moktar’s actions or any other attempt to disrupt the political stability of Sabah.

“We strongly condemn this action and urge Bung Moktar to step down as Umno chairman with immediate effect as his actions have tarnished the image of the party.”

They said Sabah has once again been dragged into a political crisis because of power-grabbing by “irresponsible parties”.

“Together, with the people of Sabah, we are firm in the belief that this is not the right time for a power grab,” they added.

The five assemblymen also voiced their hope that the problem would be resolved soon.

However, the group amended their statement later, retracting their call for Bung Moktar to quit.

Their latest statement omitted the paragraph in which they had asked him to step down as state Umno chief.