Don’t be a hypocrite, Sabah Umno tells PPBM’s Masidi

Sabah Umno Youth chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain says the party remains inclusive to other races.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno told the state PPBM today not to be a hypocrite because, like Umno, it is also a party that upholds Islamic principles and the majority of its members are Muslims.

Sabah Umno Youth chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain described as “disappointing” the statement by Sabah PPBM deputy chief Masidi Manjun that Umno had become more racist and religious to gain support.

“It is an irresponsible statement. Masidi should not be a hypocrite. PPBM’s constitution – just like Umno’s – is to uphold Islam and defend the special rights of the Malays and Bumiputeras.

“Does PPBM not realise that they are also using race and religion to garner support?

“Masidi must be pretending to have forgotten that a large number of Sabah Umno members comprise non-Muslims. It shows that we remain as we were before, being inclusive to non-Muslims and other races,” he said here today.

On Sunday, Masidi said what he feared the most for Umno after he left the party last year had become a reality and that the party was no longer inclusive after it made a pact with Islamist party PAS.

Addressing a Kota Kinabalu PPBM division meeting, he said the Umno spirit of inclusiveness of all races had ceased after it became part of the opposition.

Aziz said he feared that racial and religious issues may have become Pakatan Harapan’s new narrative to attack the opposition. He believed PH would use these issues to cover up their own weakness until the next general election.

He reminded Masidi that he won the Karanaan state seat on an Umno ticket, not PPBM.

He told Masidi the Muafakat Nasional pact among Umno, PAS, MCA and MIC was the result of the failure of the PH government in administering the country.

“The Muafakat Nasional cooperation arose out of concern for the people after they saw the country in limbo.

“The slowing down of the economy and the rift among the top leaders have resulted in the people’s welfare being ignored.”

Tawau Umno division chief Ghazalie Ansing said Masidi’s attack on his party had come as a surprise as Masidi was once a respected Umno leader.

“He must have forgotten his roots. Sabah Umno has not changed, the party still has many leaders who are non-Muslims,” he said. - FMT