Bung hits back at Kitingan's 'Sabah seats for Sabahans only' narrative

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno is led by Sabahans and Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan therefore has no right to tell the national parties to stay out from contesting state seats, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

"Jeffrey is native Dusun, I am a native Sungai, we are the same (Sabahan)," he said in response to the Sabah STAR president who urged Sabahans to only vote for local parties, especially for parliamentary seats.

Bung Moktar said that Umno, which has been in Sabah since 1991, is led by people from the state who understand the people's needs.

"Jeffrey says that Umno is a Malayan party and should not contest Parliament seats in Sabah because Umno already has many seats from the peninsula.

"Who is he to say it? His party only won one parliamentary seat and six state seats," he told delegates at the Kimanis Umno division meeting in Beaufort opened by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Sunday (June 23).

Bung Moktar urged party members to be cautious when parties try to incite and create hatred among party members and the people against Umno.

Kitingan's Sabah STAR is a coalition partner of the ruling state Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. Sabah Barisan Nasional withdrew from the coalition in January last year.

"We need to take action and can't delay any longer. We can no longer be on the sidelines. We have to focus on winning back the government and not just be content with being with the government.

"I have no regrets about leaving the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition, " he said.

At the Sepanggar Umno division annual meeting on Saturday (June 22), Bung reiterated his stand that Sabah Umno should not work with GRS and its partners Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

In Kimanis, Bung Moktar said that Sabah Umno must continue focusing on strengthening its party machinery for the next state election.

"We will ensure that Sabah Umno is the strongest in the whole country. We will make it our victory and Sabah Umno's victory will contribute to the victory of Umno in the whole country," he added.