KOTA KINABALU: The seven Sabah Umno leaders throwing in their candidacy for a place in the party's supreme council is a clear sign that the party remains a force in the state, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar.
The Sabah Umno chairman said despite the party being hit by a "mini tsunami" with four assemblymen and some members leaving for local parties, the mix of young and old candidates from different backgrounds showed that they were still confident in the national party.
"Those who left do not reflect the party's true strengths. We now have 600,000 members at grassroots level," he said Saturday when commenting on the number of Sabah candidates eyeing a seat in the supreme council.
Bung, former minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan and former Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin are seeking to retain their seats in the Umno supreme council.
The four others are Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin, Beluran Umno chief Julie Sabran, Penampang Umno chief Datuk Mohd Asnol Ayub and Tawau Umno chief Ghazalie Ansing.
A total of 95 candidates nationwide are vying for the 23 supreme council member seats in the coming Umno polls.
Labuan Umno division chief Datuk Paduka Mohd Rafi Alli Hussin is also contesting for a seat in the supreme council for the 2023-26 term.
Sabah Umno leaders have stayed out of the race for vice-president posts amid earlier speculation that either Bung or Rahman might run for the position.
