Sabah Umno can become stronger than before, says Ismail Sabri

KOTA KINABALU: Umno vice president Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is confident that Umno Sabah will continue to be strong and become an even stronger party because of its new leadership lineup which includes younger people.

“We have discussed the replacement of the division leaders who have left the party,” he told press members after having a meeting with leaders of Umno Sabah consisting of deputy division heads, vice division heads as well as leaders from the Umno women and youth movements, yesterday.

He said it had been stated in the Umno constitution that in the absence of the Umno division chief, the deputy division chief would take over his duties and that if there were no deputy division chief, then the vice division head would take over the responsibilities and so on.

“So, from what we have gathered, all the divisions can still function normally,” he said of the situation of Umno Sabah presently following the exit of the party’s key leaders two days ago.

Ismail also said he had called on the deputy and vice chiefs to carry out the tasks as division heads while waiting for the official appointment letter to act as acting division heads which would be issued to them by Umno Malaysia.

“We will discuss the matter with the information personnel that has been appointed. He will name the acting division heads who would be appointed later. But in the meantime, we ask the deputies and vice chiefs to carry the responsibility as division heads and conduct special meetings and meet with the leaders at their respective branches,” he said.

“Hence, I am confident that those who remained (with the party) are leaders with strong determination and faithful to the party, and that Umno Sabah will become stronger than before,” he said.

Ismail also said he had chosen to view the departure of the senior Umno Sabah leaders from the party positively since it opened up opportunities for new faces to lead the party.

“If we look at it, half of the old leadership, some of my friends, (have been there for) five terms, six terms and so, this new blood will have new ideas. New blood must have new ideas. As the saying goes, new broom sweeps better,” he said.

“So, they may bring about new changes that was never thought or brought to Umno Sabah, and so, I am confident that the changes will bring about positive changes to Umno Sabah,” he said.

And with regard to Umno Sabah’s autonomy, he said Umno vice president Datuk Khaled Nordin was supposed to be in Sabah to discuss the matter with the leadership of the party here.

“Unfortunately, that is not possible due to the changes in the leadership. (But) when the new leadership is formed, we will continue the discussion. Our policy is to give autonomy to Sabah Umno,” he said.

During the press conference, he was asked how the party could bring back the confidence of its members.

To this, he explained that it was imperative for Umno Sabah new leaders to be aggressive and go down to the grassroots to explain the party’s halatuju or direction.

He also said the new leadership lineup of mainly younger people in Umno Sabah might also be viewed as a way of revitalizing the party and that this move would also help strengthen the party.

He also told reporters that it was important for Umno Sabah to correct the confusions on the party’s halatuju.

When asked about the party’s halatuju, he said it was to strengthen the party and turn Umno into an effective opposition.

“Through out role as the opposition, we will work hard to wrestle back Putrajaya and Sabah. We will go as ‘pembangkang’ (opposition). Even though there had been confusion due to discussions (that have taken place) with the government, this no longer arise because we will move as the opposition,” he said.

He added that in the past, the party had several options -- to become opposition, to work with Anwar (Ibrahim) or Mahathir (Mohamed).

“But now, there is only one focus, which is Umno as an opposition. We will strengthen Umno to ensure we take over from the present government,” he assured.