Annuar: Sabah Umno reps want to defect due to lack of funds

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa has confirmed speculation that four of the party's elected representatives from Sabah are planning to jump ship.

Annuar said two MPs and two state assemblypersons had met with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but declined to say who they were.

However, he said based on a heart-to-heart talk with Sabah Umno, among the reasons some leaders want to leave the party is a lack of funds.

"They want to be with those in power for various reasons, including allocations and finances.

"Umno has to admit that when it comes to money, we have none, as our accounts have been frozen," he told reporters in Parliament today.

Annuar explained that the funds the Sabah Umno lawmakers wanted were for their constituents.

"The constituents want development, they want (infrastructure) projects," he said.

In June, Mahathir announced that opposition lawmakers would receive an RM100,000 allocation, compared to RM500,000 for those from the government.

Earlier, The Malaysian Insight reported that four Sabah Umno MPs would quit the party today.

They are believed to be Kudat MP Abd Rahim Bakri, Beaufort MP Azizah Mohd Dun, Libaran MP Zakaria Mohd Edris, and Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee.

'Umno will still have a presence'

Annuar said that even with the defections, Umno will continue to have a presence in Sabah.

"We only need 50 members, so as long as there are members to lead, then Umno will remain in Sabah.

"What I've found is that only the leaders are problematic, not the members," he said.

In the 14th general election, Sabah Umno won eight out of 26 parliamentary seats in the state.

However, Kimanis MP Anifah Aman and Labuan MP Rozman Isli left the party in September and October respectively.

Rozman has since joined Parti Warisan Sabah, while Anifah, the former foreign minister, has remained independent.

Sipitang MP Yamani Hafez Musa, meanwhile, must be sworn in by Jan 15 or have his seat declared vacant. - Mkini