‘Sabah Umno will remain relevant with autonomy’
Published on: Sunday, March 24, 2019
By: Jeremy S Zabala
PAPAR: Sabah Umno will attain political autonomy to ensure the party in the State stays relevant in the context of the existing political landscape, said Umno Supreme Council member cum Tuaran Umno Chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan (pic).
He said the green light to give the autonomy to Sabah Umno was announced by the Supreme Council, including its President and Deputy President, which is expected to take place this year.
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“It will be approved by our extraordinary general meeting that will be held this year. There will also be some amendments to the party’s constitution.
“But the biggest one of them is the inclusion of autonomy for Sabah Umno,” he said at the Group of Conferences for the Papar Umno branches, here, Saturday. Also present was Papar Umno Branch Chief Jamal Nerubi.
Rahman said the autonomy will give Sabah Umno the rights to determine the leadership of the party in the State as well as candidates for the coming general election where the process will be carried out in terms of internal election among the party members.
He said this mechanism was established to ensure that those who are willing to serve the party as well as serve the people are given the chance to participate and become a candidate.
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“At the same time, we also want Malaysia Umno to have more leeway in terms of occupying higher ranks in the party, particularly the vice president level, where we have suggested that Sabah Umno would be given one slot in the post and this will not be given away just like that.
“It will also be contested by members from Sabah. This is more democratic,” he added.
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The former Kota Belud MP said Sabah Umno will be open to more professionals who are interested in joining the party as well as producing an easier way for registration such as the online method.
“Bypassing the usual bureaucracy so that those who want to serve the party will be able to do so in the most convenient way,” he said.
He also said Sabah Umno is not only relevant in the State at high levels but also strong at the grassroots level all over the State.
“And one of the reasons I say that is because everywhere you go, the support and response is overwhelming.
“In Papar today, despite the heat and having our meeting in an open hall, there are still quite a number of people who attended.
“They proudly wore their red and white shirt symbolising their determination as Umno members. This is not just in Papar but happening all over the State,” he added.
Rahman also said although leaders have left their posts to join other parties, there are still no request for the party to be dissolved even at branch levels.
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He said those who have left the seats as chiefs were immediately replaced by members of the branches as the members are fully committed in carrying out their responsibilities for the party as well as serve the people and their needs.
“Sabah Umno is still alive, kicking and we believe that with our track record of putting the people’s welfare as priority, we will return as the State and Federal Government in the next general election,” he added.