Umno told to look in mirror before accusing others of betrayal

Nizam
KOTA KINABALU (June 4): If one wishes to speak of dignity and betrayal, Umno should first take a hard look at its own history, said Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan.
The Assistant Minister to the Sabah Chief Minister said that he read with interest the statement by the Umno Kota Kinabalu Division chief and Umno Women's Exco member, Musliati Moslimin, who claimed that Umno is not a 'political tool,' not a 'script filler,' and not a 'buyer of false promises.'
'Ironically, this statement comes from a party with a long history of scripting flawed political narratives, including in Sabah,' said Nizam, who is also Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) information chief.
'The reality is, during the 2020 Sabah state election (PRN), history clearly records who broke agreements and moral principles. Just two days before nomination day, Umno and Barisan Nasional had agreed to contest 27 seats. Yet, when the time came, they contested 41 seats — a move that not only violated mutual understanding but also created confusion and early fractures within the coalition,' he reminded.
Nizam also said that Umno also still refuses to accept the fact that in a coalition of political parties, the party with the highest number of seats holds the priority to lead.
'The GRS coalition, which Musliati dismisses as 'splinter parties,' won the highest number of seats and thus rightfully held the prerogative to choose the Chief Minister of Sabah. This is not betrayal — it is the foundation of true democracy.'
More surprising is that Musliati makes no mention of the 'Langkah Kinabalu' incident in January 2023, in which several Umno leaders, including Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, were involved in an attempt to topple the existing government, he said.
He added that the actions of Bung Moktar and several Umno leaders not only threatened state stability but gambled with the people's mandate.
'Their removal from the Cabinet and positions in government agencies was the Chief Minister's prerogative, made in the interest of safeguarding the state's stability.'
He said that Umno Sabah must also come to terms with the fact that they are no longer the 'big brother' of politics.
'Nationally, they continue to lose public support, and in Sabah, the people are tired of the same old script — just with different actors, but the same plot,' said Nizam.
He also said that the GRS government today chooses to look forward, forging strategic cooperation with Pakatan Harapan to ensure post-GE15 stability and prepare for the upcoming Sabah state election.
'Ultimately, real power lies not in the hands of any individual, party, or propaganda — but in the hands of the people. Let the people of Sabah decide who is truly working for them, and who merely excels at political theatre.'
Musliati has described the experience of working with GRS as a betrayal of the trust and sacrifices made by Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) since the 2020 Sabah state election.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Musliati stressed that the state government formed after the 2020 polls was not the result of any one party's strength, but rather a coalition comprising several components, including Bersatu, PBS, STAR, and most importantly, Umno-BN.
She asserted that Umno had not only contributed the highest number of seats to GRS at the time, but also provided vital election machinery, resources and grassroots support which formed the backbone of the coalition.
'Bersatu, at that time, was still in its infancy and relied heavily on the groundwork that Umno had established over the years. Yet silently, the hand extended in friendship was met with poison,' she said.
Musliati also revealed that Umno had been sabotaged by independent candidates allegedly sponsored by certain quarters within GRS. Despite this, Umno still managed to secure 14 seats, more than Bersatu's 11.
She went on to describe Umno's decision to give way to Datuk Seri Pangllima Hajiji Noor to become Chief Minister as a sacrifice made in the interest of state stability, even though Umno had a stronger claim to the post based on the number of seats won.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Express

an hour ago

• Daily Express

Khairul Firdaus calls for generational shift in Moyog leadership

Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Khairul Firdaus (second right) with Ceasar Mandela (second left) and Datuk John Ambrose (right) during the launch gimmick at ITCC. PENAMPANG: GRS direct member Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan has urged a generational leadership shift in Sabah, particularly in Moyog, calling for new leaders with fresh ideas. He said Sabahans have been misled for too long and real change requires space for sincere, critical thinkers, during Moyog Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah AGM on Sunday. Khairul commended veteran Datuk John Ambrose for stepping aside to allow Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun to lead, describing it as a positive example of political renewal. He acknowledged GRS's uneven support across Sabah but said its reform-minded stance under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor positions it well for the future. Ceasar Mandela said Moyog is ready to be a GRS stronghold, citing improved federal funding, reclaimed state powers, and key infrastructure gains under GRS. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

New Straits Times

2 hours ago

• New Straits Times

Umno won't field candidates in PH-held Kota Kinabalu seats

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno will not contest any seats in the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary constituency in the upcoming state election, as part of its commitment to the cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH). Sabah Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said the party would instead support candidates from its coalition partners in the seats within the parliamentary constituency. The Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat, along with the Api-Api, Likas, and Luyang state seats, is currently held by PH representatives. "We are supporting our coalition partners, particularly PH," he said during the Umno Kota Kinabalu division delegates' meeting at the party headquarters here. "Although Umno does not contest in urban constituencies such as Kota Kinabalu, the party must continue to speak up on issues affecting the people. "Umno is a platform to serve the public, engage with communities, and address the real challenges faced by the people," he added. The former Sabah Chief Minister said that BN and PH, as part of their electoral pact, are now seeking local parties that share their vision for Sabah. "We are not only considering which seats to contest, but also focusing on policies that all parties can agree on. "Secondly, we are exploring a political settlement concept. To me, this is very important and can be achieved by Sabahans themselves." However, the Usukan assemblyman excluded Parti Warisan from the equation, as the party had announced its intention to go solo in Sabah polls. Earlier, Salleh urged Umno in Kota Kinabalu to continue playing a strategic role by shaping political narratives, engaging urban youth, and assisting coalition partners in the upcoming state election.

Borneo Post

3 hours ago

• Borneo Post

Sabah BN mulls inclusive power-sharing formula for fairer representation

Salleh KOTA KINABALU (June 22): Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) is exploring a new power-sharing formula aimed at ensuring fair political representation among the state's diverse communities. Sabah Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said discussions are ongoing within the coalition to refine this approach. 'I would also like to mention the power-sharing system that BN is currently exploring. It's not just about power-sharing — we are also looking at political accommodation,' he said. Salleh stressed that no single party should act as the dominant force within the coalition. 'We should engage in discussions that take into account the needs of both Muslim and non-Muslim Bumiputera. We need a formula that can satisfy everyone. We are committed to addressing this,' he said, after officiating the Sabah Umno Kota Kinabalu division meeting. He added that BN is working on a draft commitment for the people of Sabah to tackle the state's fundamental issues — an effort he personally pledges to lead. When asked about the specifics of the proposed formula, Salleh said discussions with coalition partners are still ongoing but pointed to previous models as reference. 'Looking back at our past, we had a formula that considered both Muslim and non-Muslim Bumiputera,' he said. Recalling his tenure as Sabah Chief Minister, Salleh cited the education sector as an example of successfully balanced representation. 'When I was Chief Minister, I introduced a scholarship quota system approved by the Cabinet — 40 per cent for Muslim Bumiputera, 40 per cent for non-Muslim Bumiputera, and 20 per cent for non-Bumiputera. 'However, despite the quota, everything remained merit-based. This is an example of what we have done before,' he explained.