ZAHID WILL BE FORCED TO RESIGN – UMNO FLOODGATES OPEN: AFTER UNPRECEDENTED EN-MASSE EXODUS OF SABAH REPS PLEDGING SUPPORT FOR DR MAHATHIR – WHO NEXT WILL JUMP SHIP? WILL UMNO EVEN HAVE 5 MPs LEFT ONCE THE CARNAGE IS OVER?

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno chief Hajiji Mohd Noor today joined other elected representatives, senators and senior division leaders exiting the party and becoming independents, effectively crippling the party’s chapter in the state.

Hajiji said the decision was unanimous, saying it was taken because “Umno is not what it used to be”.

“The current leadership lacks clear political direction,” he told a packed press conference here today.

Those leaving comprised four MPs, nine assemblymen, two senators and 21 division heads.

“We are not sure where Umno is heading to. There are conflicting accounts of the ‘way forward’ depending on who you talk to at the top leadership,” he said.

Outgoing Sabah Umno senior leaders show solidarity after the media conference.

Apart from Hajiji, the other Umno assemblymen are Musbah Jamli (Tempasuk), Japlin Akin (Usukan), Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahada (Kawang), Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (Membakut), Isnin Aliasnih (Klias), Matbali Musbah (Lumadan), Masidi Manjun (Karanaan), Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (Apas).

The MPs meanwhile are Abdul Rahim Bakri (Kudat), Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Ronald Kiandee (Beluran) and Zakaria Mohd Edris (Libaran).

They are also joined by two senators, Penampang Umno chief John Ambrose and Pensiangan Umno chief Ghani Yassin.

Two senior leaders who are not among them are former chief minister Musa Aman and Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar.

Hajiji said the group would be joined by Musa’s son, Sipitang MP Hafez Yamani Musa. Hafez has yet to be sworn in as MP in the Dewan Rakyat.

Senior state party leaders including Sabah Umno information chief Pandikar Amin and Supreme Council member Salleh Said Keruak, were also present at today’s press conference.

FREE MALAYSIA TODAY