KOTA KINABALU: A mass exodus from Sabah Umno has begun with nine of its 10 assemblymen and five of six MPs leaving the party yesterday.
And its two senators also walked out of the party.
In an immediate reaction, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the exodus was not unexpected and was not likely to weaken the party.
“What took place in Sabah is a move that was expected. This definitely does not weaken the struggle of Umno that has contributed a lot to that state,” The Star Online quoted Zahid as saying.
The MPs who left are Abdul Rahim Bakri (Kudat), Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang),Datuk Ronald Kiandee (Beluran) and Datuk Zakaria Mohd Edris (Libaran).
The assemblymen who quit are Datuk Musbah Jamli (Tempasuk), Datuk Japlin Akin (Usukan), Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor, Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar (Kawang), Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (Membakut), Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (Klias), Datuk Matbali Musbah (Lumadan), Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (Karanaan) and Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (Apas).
The two Sabah Umno senators are Datuk John Ambrose and Datuk Ghani Yassin.
