Bung Moktar: Youths to play a bigger role in Sabah Umno

Newly-minted Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin is looking to reinvigorate the party with fresh faces, after a mass exodus of state leaders on Wednesday.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Bung said youths will take on more senior positions in the state party leadership.

"We've done our early planning, that is to identify young leaders who are still loyal to the party, to take on the responsibility of strengthening the party," Bung said when asked about his strategy to revitalise Sabah Umno.

On Wednesday, at least four MPs and nine assemblypersons, as well as other leaders, quit Sabah Umno and pledged loyalty to Pakatan Harapan and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Bung Moktar was promoted to Sabah Umno chief on the same day.

While acknowledging it as a "heavy" responsibility, the Kinabatangan MP said it was important for Umno to play a role as a check and balance to the government.

Thus, he said reviving the party was important.

"We will go to the grassroots members to explain issues. There are a lot of issues which can be played up by the opposition such as Pakatan Harapan not fulfilling many things in its manifesto," he said. - Mkini